Odesa SES exposes accountant for salary fraud

In Odesa region, a court considered a case of alleged embezzlement of budget funds in the structure of the State Emergency Service. An employee of the institution is suspected of embezzling more than UAH 12 million through payroll fraud, and the head is charged with negligence.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

According to the investigation, in the period from January 2019 to September 2022, the head of the 3rd Special Rapid Response Center of the SES improperly performed his duties. He did not control the work of the financial unit and did not actually check the accounting records.

In particular, we are talking about electronic statements on the calculation of salaries and advances, which were issued through the Raiffeisen Business Online system. The manager not only ignored the verification of these documents, but also transferred his electronic signature to a subordinate, which allowed financial transactions to be carried out without proper control.

The investigation found that the chief accountant took advantage of this and misappropriated funds for a long time. She prepared and signed payrolls both with her signature and the signature of the manager, making changes that allowed her to unreasonably charge additional payments.

The money was transferred both to her account and to the accounts of other employees, which led to artificially inflated salaries and unjustified payments. The total amount of losses exceeded UAH 12.1 million.

In court, the manager stated that he did not need a lawyer and was defending himself. He also opposed the imposition of a preventive measure, explaining that he no longer works at the institution, has no contact with the defendants in the case, and regularly appears in court. However, the court imposed a personal commitment on him for two months.

As for the accountant, prosecutors insisted on house arrest. The case is ongoing: the court has not yet interrogated all the witnesses and examined all the materials. If found guilty, she faces up to 8 years in prison and a ban on holding certain positions.

Also in April, a company executive was tried in Odesa on suspicion of misappropriating funds intended for salaries. As a result, the company suffered losses of over UAH 874 thousand.

Анна Бальчінос