NABU uncovers embezzlement scheme in procurement at Izmail port

The NABU and the SAPO exposed an organized group that misappropriated funds of the state-owned enterprise Izmail Commercial Sea Port. The scheme of abuse was carried out in 2022-2023 and involved overstating the cost of equipment and goods.

This was reported by the SAPO press service.

According to the investigation, the deal involved the port director and representatives of private supplier companies controlled by the organizer of the scheme. The latter actually acted as the "general director", and his subordinates were responsible for technical and financial matters.

The group members had access to proprietary information about upcoming procurements and determined the winners of the bids in advance. The companies independently negotiated with producers, prepared technical requirements and tender documents instead of the port, included discriminatory conditions to exclude real bidders, and submitted inflated price offers.

As a result, leading manufacturers and dealers did not participate in the procurement, and the goods were supplied by "their" companies at inflated prices. The proceeds were transferred to the accounts of the companies and individual entrepreneurs involved in the scheme, after which they were withdrawn in cash and distributed among themselves.

Preliminary losses are estimated at over UAH 24 million. All members of the group were served suspicion notices under Part 5 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The NABU detectives started the investigation in May 2024 based on their own findings, in particular after analyzing procurement in the Prozorro system and complaints from bidders. Some of the companies involved in the scheme have already been blacklisted by the AMCU.

The amount of damage was determined based on the findings of the State Audit Service and experts from the SBU Institute of Special Equipment and Forensic Expertise.

Recently, the BES brought a case to court over the embezzlement of public funds during the repair of a berth in the port of Chornomorsk. An official of the USPA and the management of a construction company are accused of forging certificates of completion. In collusion, they signed documents that allowed them to seize the property of the state-owned enterprise.

In early November, a large-scale ship resale scheme was exposed in Odesa region. The criminal scheme involved deputies of the regional council, who exported dozens of barges abroad through shell companies.

Анна Бальчінос