Mykolaiv concealed 82 million in agricultural exports

In Mykolaiv, law enforcement officers are investigating a complex tax evasion scheme involving grain exports, a network of offices in different cities, and accounting abroad. According to the investigation, the state budget could have lost tens of millions of hryvnias due to these actions.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

Investigators found that Carpio, Harvest Green, Grinteksa, and Aravis-Trade were involved in the fraud, which, according to law enforcement, was used to export agricultural products. In particular, the goods were accumulated on the territory of the Reniia elevator. The participants of the scheme operated from different locations: one of the defendants worked in an office in Odesa, another was an accountant in Mykolaiv, and another was abroad in Bulgaria.

One of the key episodes was that Carpio, a company registered in Mykolaiv, failed to file tax returns for 2024. According to the case file, in 2021-2024, the company received more than UAH 82 million from exports, but did not file an income tax return. According to the investigation, this led to significant budget losses. The actions of the defendants are qualified as intentional tax evasion committed by an organized group on a particularly large scale.

During the preparatory hearing, the parties argued about the jurisdiction of the case. The defense insisted that the case should not be considered by the Central District Court of Mykolaiv, as the main investigative actions, including searches, were conducted in Odesa. The lawyers also pointed out that the last episode was related to a company registered in the Zavodskyi district of the city.

The prosecutor disagreed, explaining that if the exact location of the crime cannot be established, the case is considered at the place where the pre-trial investigation was completed. Since the investigation was conducted by the SBU Office in Mykolaiv region, located in the Central District, it was this court, according to the prosecution, that should hear the case.

Ultimately, the court concluded that the issue of jurisdiction required additional resolution and sent the indictment to the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal, which will determine where the case will be heard.

The court also considered the issue of preventive measures. One of the defendants was previously granted bail in the amount of UAH 20 million, which was later reduced to UAH 7.5 million. After posting the bail, she was released from custody, retaining her procedural obligations.

The court partially granted the prosecutor's motion and extended the term of her duties until May 25, 2026. The other defendant's preventive measure in the form of a personal commitment was extended for the same period. A similar decision was made in relation to another participant in the case.

Also, at the beginning of the year, a case was launched in Mykolaiv region regarding possible tax evasion on grain exports. According to the investigation, from November 2020 to July 2021, the company exported more than UAH 109 million worth of grain, while the investigation failed to establish the origin of the products.

Анна Бальчінос