"And here they stole!": In the Kiev region uncovered the scheme of embezzlement of 2.8 million UAH on the purchase of tomb crosses for the Alley of Memory

Law enforcement authorities have revealed a large-scale scheme of embezzlement of budget funds, organized by officials of Irpen city council together with representatives of a private company. According to the investigation, during the purchase of 75 tombstones for the memorial complex, the budget suffered damage exceeding 2.8 million hryvnias.

According to Ukrinform with reference to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the participants of the scheme organized a tender with a predetermined winner. The terms of procurement were formed with gross violations of the Law of Ukraine «On Public Procurement», which actually eliminated market competition. The only participant and the winner was a limited liability company, which ensured the delivery of the products.

During the investigation it was found that the monuments were imported from China at a price of about 12 thousand hryvnias per unit. However, for the needs of the city they were supplied at an inflated price — almost 80 thousand hryvnias for each unit. As a result, about 6 million hryvnias were paid for the fulfillment of the contract, of which more than 2.8 million hryvnias was a probable overpayment.

Pre-trial investigation is conducted under part 5 of article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement of budget funds on a large scale). It should be noted that this is not the only case of financial irregularities in the region: earlier, similar proceedings were initiated against officials in Kharkiv Region under the eVidnovlenia program.