Profiteering from farmers: ex-officials of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection from Mykolaiv region will be tried for bribery

Since November 2024, the head of one of the sectors of the Main Directorate of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Mykolaiv region and his subordinate organized a scheme to receive bribes from local farmers for re-registering agricultural machinery.

According to the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the so-called "package of paid services" also included issuing a tractor driver's license without training and exams.

"In total, 15 episodes of receiving illegal benefits worth more than UAH 100,000 by the accused were documented," the statement said.

Law enforcement officers classified their actions as obtaining an undue advantage by an official and forgery committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy. The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for up to 10 years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities and confiscation of property.

Currently, the indictment against the former officials has been sent to court, and they have been dismissed from the government agency.

Earlier, the SBI served a notice of suspicion to another Kherson law enforcement officer involved in a corruption scheme to sell driver's licenses. According to the investigation, he helped at least three people get licenses without training for money.

In Mykolaiv region, a court considered a police motion for temporary access to documents and items in a criminal case involving embezzlement at generators. According to the investigation, village head Valeriy Khomitsky developed a corruption scheme to misappropriate budget funds. According to the investigation, he was supposed to set up the "Sanctuary" in the community, providing heating, electricity, water and food. However, Khomitskyi decided to redistribute budget funds instead of conducting public procurement.

Олеся Ланцман