Mykolaiv court closes case against director of construction company for embezzlement

Mykolaiv court dismissed the case against the director of a construction company due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. The director was charged with misappropriation of budget funds and forgery.

This is evidenced by the decision of the Central District Court of Mykolaiv.

The judge considered an indictment against the director of Ukrainian Construction Company LLC, who was accused of forgery and misappropriation of budget funds. The case was closed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, as more than five years had passed since the commission of the criminal offenses.

In May 2019, Ukrainian Construction Company LLC and the Department of Housing and Communal Services of Mykolaiv City Council entered into an agreement for the current repair of the soft roof of a residential building at 97b Heroiv Ukrayiny Avenue for UAH 199,662.

The investigation established that the director of the enterprise, knowing about the incomplete performance of the work, knowingly entered false information into the June acceptance certificate, thereby seizing budget funds worth UAH 27,753. The actions of the accused were classified under Part 2 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation of another's property by abuse of office) and Part 1 of Art. 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (forgery).

At the court hearing, the director's lawyer filed a motion to close the criminal proceedings due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, which was supported by the defendant himself. The prosecutor did not object, and the representative of the department did not appear.

The court found that the criminal offenses were not serious, and due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, the director was released from criminal liability.

At the same time, the department filed a civil lawsuit, demanding compensation for damages in the amount of UAH 27,753. The court dismissed the lawsuit, but the department may re-apply to the court in civil proceedings. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay the costs of expert examinations in the amount of UAH 4,739.

The court ruled to close the criminal proceedings of April 27, 2020, and to release the director of Ukrainian Construction Company LLC from criminal liability.

Recently, the mayor of Bashtanka , Oleksandr Berehovoi, was released from the Mykolaiv pre-trial detention center after posting bail. His wife paid UAH 1.1 million, and now the official is free. Berehovoi is suspected of embezzling community funds and facilitating their misappropriation during the purchase of clothing for the military. He was notified of the suspicion on August 19.

Анна Бальчінос