Mykolaiv Court Approves Access to Documents in Kherson Embezzlement Case

Mykolaiv court granted investigators' request for access to documents in the case of embezzlement of budget funds. The case concerns a utility company in Kherson whose employees are suspected of misusing and misappropriating budget funds.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Zavodskyi District Court.

The court considered the investigators' request for temporary access to documents as part of the pre-trial investigation of the criminal proceedings. The investigation is being conducted by the Investigation Department of the Kherson Oblast National Police on the grounds of a criminal offense under Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

It has been established that officials of one of the municipal enterprises of the Kherson City Council, starting in 2023, abused their official position by misappropriating and embezzling budget funds.

In particular, on April 3, 2023, the director of the utility hired a Ukrainian citizen as deputy director for organizational and legal support, who did not actually perform her duties during the year, did not appear at the workplace, but received her salary in full. On March 29, 2024, she was dismissed by agreement of the parties.

Between March 2023 and March 2024, seven cases were pending in court in which this person, in accordance with her official duties, could have participated in the development of legal documents. However, the investigation established the need to obtain documentation to confirm or refute her involvement in the work.

For the purpose of a full and objective investigation, investigators require temporary access to relevant documents to conduct examinations and establish the truth in the case. Other methods of investigation do not allow for a clear determination of the degree of responsibility of the suspects.

Recently, the court invalidated a contract for the purchase of a telescopic loader that did not meet the requirements and ordered the return of the money spent. A municipal enterprise in Bashtanka region paid almost one and a half million hryvnias for the low-quality transport.

Also in Mykolaiv region, the court extended the duties of the director of a company suspected of embezzling funds allocated for the repair of the South Ukrainian NPP facility. The company's CEO knew about the tender in advance and ensured that his company won the open tender. In addition, a court ruling resulted in the termination of the contract with the contractor, who had not started construction of the stadium. More than UAH 17 million was allocated for the project.

Анна Бальчінос