UAH 71 million on heat supply for Prykarpattia region: police expose criminal organisation
In Prykarpattia region, law enforcement officers exposed a criminal organisation whose members embezzled more than UAH 71 million of budget funds in the field of heat supply to the population. Among the defendants are the founder and officials of enterprises engaged in the production and transportation of heat energy in Ivano-Frankivsk. This is reported by The Public with reference to the National Police of Ukraine.
According to the investigation, during 2021-2023, the attackers implemented an illegal scheme to seize local budget funds in particularly large amounts. To do this, they artificially inflated heat tariffs and entered inaccurate data into official documents. Five participants in the scheme were served a notice of suspicion, the sanctions of the articles charged provide for up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property Later, the organiser involved the heads of the newly created companies in the scheme. They submitted documentation with fictitious figures to the authorised bodies: they overstated the tariff for heat production, underestimated the actual level of losses during transportation and included unreasonably high profits. After the approval of such calculations, the companies entered into contracts with the state municipal enterprise for the production and supply of heat to consumers.
Based on the concluded agreements, budget funds for heat supply services were transferred in full to the accounts of the controlled entities. These funds were managed by the organiser of the scheme, in particular in the interests of private companies.
During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers documented a clear division of roles between the members of the criminal organisation - from planning and financial control to the preparation of fictitious documentation and money laundering.
The collected evidence confirmed the involvement of five people in the misappropriation of more than UAH 71 million of budget funds. Depending on the role of each of them, the actions of the defendants are qualified under the articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In particular, the creation and participation in a criminal organisation, misappropriation of property and forgery.
Law enforcement officers are currently identifying other persons who may have been involved in the illegal activity.
Photo: National Police of Ukraine.
