Embezzlement exposed during repair of shelter for sports school in Mykolaiv

In Mykolaiv, a suspected scheme of misappropriation of budget funds during the repair of a shelter at a sports school was exposed. The court has already limited the time for the suspect to familiarize himself with the case file due to the delay in the process.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Zavodskyi District Court of Mykolaiv.

In the case of possible misappropriation of budget funds during the repair of a shelter at the Mykolaiv Regional Municipal Complex Children's and Youth Sports School No. 1, the investigation found significant discrepancies between the declared and actual volumes of work performed.

This refers to a contract dated June 6, 2024, worth UAH 2.9 million, concluded between the school and LLC "Organization of Landscape Design and Interior". The works included the repair of the basement at 4 Heroiv Ukrayiny Avenue in Mykolaiv to equip a simple shelter.

According to the investigation, the director of the contractor, acting intentionally, entered false information in the acts of work performed and certificates about the complete repair of the shelter. In fact, as it was established, the real cost of the work performed was about UAH 2.57 million, which is more than UAH 322 thousand less than the amount paid.

Nevertheless, on August 28, 2024, the client, a sports school, transferred the entire amount under the contract to the contractor. The investigation believes that the contractor misappropriated the difference of more than UAH 322 thousand.

The suspect was served a notice of suspicion of misappropriation of funds on a large scale and forgery. Law enforcement officers have now completed the pre-trial investigation and opened the case file to the defense.

However, according to the court, the suspect and his lawyer read only one volume out of four and refused to confirm it with their signatures. The investigating judge recognized such actions as a delay in the process and set a deadline for familiarization - until March 20, 2026. After this deadline, the defense will be considered to have exercised its right to access the case file.

In March, in Mykolaiv, the court allowed investigators to access bank documents in the case of a possible corruption scheme involving fictitious employment of conscripts in sports facilities in the city. According to law enforcement, men could have been hired for bribes to get reservations and avoid mobilization.

Анна Бальчінос