Kherson entrepreneur to be tried for blackmail and kickbacks

A case against a businessman accused of abuse of influence and receiving a kickback for influencing a utility company has been brought to court. According to the investigation, he put pressure on the business and demanded payment for a guarantee of a contract.

This was reported by Hryvnia.

Law enforcement officers sent an indictment to the Kherson City Court in the case against businessman Oleksandr Novokhatskyi, co-owner of companies associated with the former head of the Kherson MVA Roman Mrochko.

Novokhatskyi was charged with abuse and bribery for influencing decision-making by public officials.

According to the investigation, he offered the director of Voltenergotrans LLC more than half a million hryvnias to influence the management of Khersonteploenergo to sign a contract for laying a cable line worth 2.5 million hryvnias. In addition, Novokhatskyi promised "guaranteed" acceptance of the work without obstacles, and in case of refusal, he threatened to make it impossible for the company to continue its activities in Kherson and the region.

The transfer of funds took place at the premises of the Service-Opt utility company, which was rented by Budpostach-STSV. If Novokhatsky's guilt is proven, he faces a fine of up to UAH 8.3 million or imprisonment for a term of 2 to 5 years.

In January, the court imposed a pre-trial restraint on Oleksandr Novokhatskyi, director of Kherson-based Budpostach-STSV LLC, and the deputy head of the Kherson Regional Emergency Rescue Service. According to the investigation, they extorted money from a contractor who was supposed to perform work at a local hospital.

Both defendants in the case denied their guilt. At the trial, their lawyers insisted that the suspicions were unfounded and the risks were far-fetched. Nevertheless, the court ruled to take the suspects into custody with the right to be released on bail - UAH 908,400 for each.

Prosecutors also submitted to the court an indictment against the former head of one of Kherson's utility companies. According to the investigation, in 2022, when the city was under temporary occupation, the company did not actually work, but the director, having access to bank accounts, made unauthorized payments through his office in the banking system.

Анна Бальчінос