Kherson opens case on misappropriation of funds for school repairs

In Kherson, the director of a local company is suspected of embezzling funds from the budget during the renovation of a school. Investigators found forged certificates of completion during the school renovation.

This was reported by Anti-Corruption Dimension with reference to the decision of the Kherson City Court.

Law enforcement officers are investigating a case against the company's director, who is suspected of embezzling budget funds during the repair of the roof of Kherson Educational Complex #56.

According to the investigation, the director of Khimekoprom LLC, whose company won the tender for the repair, signed a contract with the Kherson City Council's Education Department for the overhaul of the roof of the educational complex #56 in Kherson. The cost of the works under the contract dated June 12, 2019, amounted to UAH 6 million 648 thousand. Under the terms of the contract, the contractor was to perform the repairs, and the customer was to accept the work and pay for it.

The investigation believes that the suspect deliberately entered false data in five acts of work performed and created the appearance of repair. In fact, most of the work was not performed, and the director used the funds at his own discretion.

As stated in the ruling, the actions of the company's director caused damage to the local budget of more than one million hryvnias. He was notified of being suspected of misappropriation of property and entering deliberately false information into official documents.

Currently, the suspect's whereabouts are unknown, and the notice of suspicion and summons have been published on the websites of the Prosecutor General's Office and the Uriadovyi Kurier newspaper. The defendant's defense counsel was handed a copy of the suspicion. For his actions, he faces 7 to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property and disqualification to hold managerial positions for up to three years.

Investigators are also checking the suspect's bank accounts and real estate to ensure compensation for the damage caused.

In early August, the court seized the property of the director of a construction company from Kherson region, who is also suspected of embezzling budget funds from state construction projects. The man in question is the former head of Teplohazmerezha LLC, who is suspected of abuse of office and misappropriation of money during the construction of outpatient clinics in Shchaslyvtseve and Chongar, Genichesk district. According to the investigation, the man may be in Switzerland, where he had a temporary residence permit.

Анна Бальчінос