Misappropriation of funds on computers for schools exposed in Odesa region

An entrepreneur from Odesa region is suspected of embezzling funds from computer equipment that he had transferred to schools according to documents but did not actually deliver. The court authorized his arrest.

This is evidenced by the decision of the Izmail City District Court.

In Odesa region, a suspect in fraud with computer equipment for schools was exposed. The investigation established that in August 2020, the Department of Education and Youth Policy of the Kilia District State Administration and the entrepreneur signed several contracts for the supply of computer equipment and laptops for schools in the district.

The first contract provided for the supply of 10 Canon monochrome universal printers with color printing. The contract value was UAH 56,280, and the equipment was to be delivered and installed at the educational institutions by December 31, 2020. According to the contract, the customer, the head of the education department, was to inspect the delivery and sign an acceptance certificate.

In September 2020, the entrepreneur received more than 55 thousand hryvnias on his account for the printers, although he did not actually deliver the equipment to the schools. To conceal the lack of delivery, he forged an acceptance certificate, signing the document as if the equipment had actually been received. After that, the money for the equipment was credited to his bank account.

On the same day, the entrepreneur entered into another agreement with the education department for the safe custody of the equipment. Again, the document was forged: it certified the receipt of equipment that no one had actually seen or received.

In parallel, in August 2020, another contract was signed for the supply of laptops for schools. The total value of this contract was UAH 193,600. In September-October, the entrepreneur received money to his account, but did not hand over the laptops, and forged acceptance certificates showed that the equipment had been received.

As a result of the suspect's actions, the state lost UAH 249,880, which was supposed to be used to equip schools. The investigation established that the entrepreneur acted deliberately, using his official position and knowledge of the procedure for receiving equipment to misappropriate public funds.

On December 26, 2022, he was notified of suspicion of forgery and misappropriation or embezzlement of property. The judge granted permission to detain the suspect for arrest.

Also in Odesa region, law enforcement officers exposed the director of a private construction company suspected of embezzling budget funds during the repair of a school shelter. According to the investigation, the director of the company deliberately overestimated the cost of construction materials in the estimates in order to misappropriate part of the funds.

Анна Літман