Director of security agency in Odesa region accused of embezzling funds for shelter

The Prymorskyi District Court of Odesa is considering a case on charges of misappropriation of budget funds and forgery during the repair of a shelter for students of the Shcherbanskyi Lyceum in Rozdilnyanskyi district.

The company won the tender for the repairs in 2022, according to the publication "Anti-Corruption Dimension".

In December 2022, the head of the Department of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Lyman Village Council signed an agreement with Antikiller-Plus LLC. The cost of repairing and equipping a civil defense facility in the basement of the Shcherban school amounted to UAH 1.9 million.

The case file indicates that nine days after signing the contract, Maksym Ruzhyn submitted certificates of completion to the education department. Investigators note that they contained inaccurate information about the scope and cost of the work performed, as well as inflated prices for equipment. Among other things, for example, the cost of a boiler was overstated by more than 4 thousand hryvnias, and two plastic water tanks by 4.8 thousand hryvnias. And Ruzhyn was paid UAH 70,500 more for 50 double benches than they actually cost. In total, according to the results of the examinations, law enforcement officers found losses of more than UAH 341 thousand.

Investigators believe that the official paid Antikiller-Plus LLC for non-existent work, ignored the overpricing, and deliberately failed to supervise the repairs.

After the investigation was completed, the case against Maksym Ruzhyn was referred to the Rozdilnyansky District Court, but from there it was transferred to the Prymorsky District Court in Odesa. At the same time, however, the head of the Rozdilnyansky court, Zhanna Terenchuk, is personally considering a related case of abuse by an official of the education department.

Кирило Бойко