Law enforcers search offices of Odesa utility company

On June 16, detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security and prosecutors searched the premises of the municipal enterprise "Specialized Installation and Maintenance Unit" of the Odesa City Council.

The information about the searches, published by journalist Iryna Hryb, was confirmed by the BES to Intent.

However, the Bureau of Economic Security noted that they could not yet disclose the details of the incident. Instead, Iryna Hryb claims that law enforcement officers conducted 18 searches in the city, not only in the offices of the municipal enterprise, but also in the homes and dachas of officials.

According to the journalist, law enforcement officers became interested in the utility company because of alleged price gouging during the purchase and installation of uninterruptible power supplies for the city's traffic lights. According to the journalist, the prosecutor's office believes that during 11 purchases of these sources, from August to December 2024, SMEP chose a supplier with a fivefold overpricing. The total amount of purchases allegedly reached UAH 40.8 million, and the losses to the state amounted to more than UAH 15 million.

Intent asked the Odesa municipality for a comment on the searches at the utility company, but has not yet received a response.

Also on June 16, officers of the Bureau of Economic Security served a notice of suspicion to Iryna Kutsenko, a member of the Odesa City Council, in a case of corruption at the Center for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS.

Intent asked the deputy for a comment on this situation, but has not yet received a response.

As reported by Iryna Hryb in December 2024, the Center allegedly entered into agreements with a controlled individual entrepreneur to use budget funds. Allegedly for the rehabilitation of drug addicts who did not actually exist in the amount of more than UAH 7 million. And allegedly for this, MPs and officials received kickbacks of 15% from entrepreneurs.

Кирило Бойко