In Mykolaiv, the head of a vocational school is suspected of a scheme with "dead souls"

In Mykolaiv, law enforcement officers exposed a possible scheme of embezzlement of budget funds in one of the higher vocational schools. According to the investigation, the acting director of the institution hired three acquaintances who did not actually work but regularly received salaries from the state budget.

This was reported by the Mykolaiv Regional Police and the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to the investigation, the scheme operated from September 2022 to August 2025. Law enforcement officers believe that the 43-year-old head of the state-owned educational institution employed three acquaintances to various positions at the school. At the same time, they did not perform any job duties and did not show up for work.

Despite this, they were paid monthly salaries from the state budget. According to the investigation, the funds received were subsequently transferred to bank accounts opened in the name of the head of the institution and his relatives.

As a result of such actions, the state budget, according to preliminary estimates, suffered losses of almost UAH 800 thousand.

During searches at the official's place of work and residence, law enforcement officers seized documents, a cell phone and other material evidence.

Investigators served the acting director with a notice of suspicion of misappropriation and embezzlement of property by abuse of office committed under martial law. Three of his acquaintances are charged with aiding and abetting this crime.

The issue of choosing a measure of restraint for the suspects is currently being decided. Investigators also filed a motion with the court to remove the head of the educational institution from office.

Law enforcement officers are checking the possible involvement of other persons in the scheme. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Earlier, the court imposed a pre-trial restraint on Iryna Bondarenko, head of the Department for Physical Culture and Sports of Mykolaiv City Council, who is suspected of organizing a scheme for fictitious employment of persons liable for military service.

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