In Odesa, three officials of a municipal enterprise were ordered to post bail of up to 50,000 in a case involving the use of water utility property

In Odesa, bail was set for three officials of the municipal enterprise “Odesa Development Programs Agency” in a case involving alleged losses to the community resulting from the company “Infox” using municipal property free of charge.

The Center for Public Investigations examined the details of the case.

According to the investigation, since 2020, the official has failed to take the necessary steps to formalize the paid use of municipal property. This involves two sewage pumping stations, a tunnel sewer collector, and a pressure sewer collector.

These facilities were on the balance sheet of the municipal enterprise “APRO,” although they were actually being used by“Infox” LLC. The city council repeatedly ordered an inventory and appraisal of these facilities for their subsequent transfer to the company for paid use.

Investigators believe that due to the official’s inaction, the community did not receive payment for the use of the property. The amount of damages was estimated at over 225 million hryvnias.

The official was notified of suspicion of official negligence resulting in serious consequences. As a result, the head of the municipal enterprise “APRO” was ordered to post bail in the amount of 49,920 hryvnias and was subject to procedural obligations.

In the same case, the deputy director of the “APRO” municipal enterprise, who had previously served as acting director, was also charged. According to investigators, her actions may have caused the community to lose 45.87 million hryvnias. The court set her bail at 33,280 hryvnias.

A bail of 49,920 hryvnias was also set for the acting director of the municipal enterprise, who is suspected of causing 293.8 million hryvnias in losses to the community.

Also in September, the BEB uncovered possible embezzlement of budget funds by officials of the Odesa City Council and contractors during work carried out as part of the city’s“Barrier-Free Odesa” program. During the investigation, detectives seized a sample of road pavement. 

Анна Літман