Former Deputy Mayor of Kharkiv Suspected of Stealing Over 5 Million Hryvnias for Fortification Construction
The prosecutor's office, together with the police, uncovered a large-scale criminal mechanism that, according to the investigation, was headed by the former deputy mayor of Kharkiv. He is suspected of organizing and leading a criminal group that stole over five million hryvnias of state funds earmarked for the construction of defense structures in the region. This information was officially confirmed by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who reported on the details and the active phase of the investigation. According to the specialized defense prosecutor's office of the Eastern region, five people were suspected of creating and running a criminal organization. The action involved not only the former deputy mayor of Kharkiv, but also four other defendants - two heads of enterprises and two individual entrepreneurs. The investigation revealed that the organizer, together with the head of one of the contracting companies, who was the main executor of the orders, involved a laying company and two other private entrepreneurs in the illegal scheme. Research shows that the group members purchased materials and equipment for the construction of fortifications at prices that exceeded market prices by more than a third - this caused significant losses to the budget. According to investigators, as a result of criminal activity, the state suffered losses in the amount of more than 5.4 million hryvnias. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized computer equipment, financial and accounting documentation from the group members, which is important for further investigation. As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers qualify the actions of the suspects as the organization of a criminal group and the embezzlement of state funds on a particularly large scale, especially in wartime. The organizers are accused of creating a criminal organization, embezzlement of funds in large amounts, and forgery. All those involved in the case are detained and have already been charged. The prosecutor's office persistently requested that the court choose a preventive measure for the suspects in the form of detention without the possibility of bail in order to prevent possible risks and evasion of responsibility. An investigation is underway, which aims to clarify all the circumstances and all episodes of the activities of the criminal organization, which jeopardized the state budget and the defense capability of the region at such a difficult time for the country.