Mykolaiv Officials Accused of Embezzling ₴39.5M in Bridge Scam

In Mykolaiv, the head of a private company and a technical supervision engineer are accused of embezzling budget funds worth almost UAH 39.5 million during the construction of a pontoon bridge.

This was reported by the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to the investigation, the contractor, the head of the company, signed a contract for the construction of a bridge across the Southern Bug River for 46.3 million hryvnias. However, he did not perform the work, but provided the customer with forged documents stating that the work had been completed. The technical supervision engineer, knowing that the work had not been performed, signed these documents.

As a result, almost UAH 39.5 million was transferred to the company's account from the budget. The head of the company used these funds to purchase two cars and an apartment in Odesa.
The man has now been imposed a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with the possibility of bail in the amount of UAH 40 million. His property, including apartments and cars, has been seized. A lawsuit has also been filed to recover the full amount of damages from the defendants.

The prosecutor's office added that they face up to 12 years in prison and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years and confiscation of property.

Earlier, Intent wrote that the Mykolaiv Oblast Infrastructure Restoration and Development Service ordered the repair of the Varvarovsky Bridge over the Pivdennyi Buh River to the only bidder, European Road Construction Company LLC. The contract is worth UAH 57 million. The State Audit Service is interested in the tender.

It was also reported that UAH 38 million was allocated for the repair of the T-15-13 Nechayane-Ochakiv highway, and almost UAH 40 million for the P-55 Odesa-Voznesensk-Novyi Buh highway. However, additional work increased the cost by another UAH 412.8 million. Separately, the overhaul of the bridge on this highway was estimated at more than UAH 544 million.

Meanwhile, major infrastructure projects to restore water supply and strengthen defense capabilities are underway in Mykolaiv region. However, many of the contractors were awarded without open tenders, and among the contractors were companies that had previously been involved in criminal cases of embezzlement of public funds.

Андрій Колісніченко