09:45 03.04.2017

Pretrial inquiry into "Kyoto funds" embezzlement completed – SAPO

3 min read
Pretrial inquiry into "Kyoto funds" embezzlement completed – SAPO

The head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), Nazar Kholodnytsky, has announced the completion of the pre-trial investigation of the criminal proceedings into embezzlement of more than UAH 336 million of public funds provided to Ukraine under the Kyoto Protocol.

The SAP said the evidence collected during the pre-trial investigation was sufficient to draw up an indictment. The criminal proceedings have been provided to the defense team, Kholodnytsky wrote on his Facebook page on March 31, 2017.

"According to the collected materials, investigators have established that a group of individuals, which included officials of the State Enterprise Ukrecoresursy, through ensuring the victory of sham companies in the tender on the overhaul through technical re-equipment of illumination equipment using LED-based lamps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve social and economic conditions, committed an attempt to seize public funds in the amount of more than UAH 336 million," Kholodnytsky wrote.

According to him, as the results of the pre-trial investigation ten people were brought to criminal responsibility, including director of the state enterprise Ukrecoresursy V. Kuznets, who was informed of a suspicion of committing crimes under Part 2 of Article 15, and part 5 of Article 191 (attempt to take possession of other people's property), Part 2 of Article 382 (failure to comply with a court judgment), Part 1 of Article 366 (official forgery) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Two people have already been convicted for fictitious entrepreneurship (Part 1 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Kholodnytsky noted based on findings of the judicial and economic examination, the amount of funds that the perpetrators were able to seize as a result of the criminal acts described above was established and is currently stated in the indictment – UAH 336 million.

As earlier reported, on January 21, 2016, information pursuant to Part 2 of Article 15, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on embezzlement of UAH 480 million in state assets was added by NABU detectives to the national register of pretrial investigations. The money was given to Ukraine based on the Kyoto Protocol. The theft occurred at state-owned enterprise Ukrainian Ecological Investments (Ukrekoinvest) during a tender to replace and install LED lamps. All tender participants were screened by NABU agents.

A number of suspects were arrested. Two were convicted and arrest warrants were issued for two others along with one additional international arrest warrant.

On Jan 31, 2017, National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Head Artem Sytnyk said the criminal investigation into the theft of funds given to Ukraine under the Kyoto Protocol was almost complete.

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