Anti-corruption authorities of Ukraine have notified the head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, his deputy and other officials of suspicion of misappropriation of more than UAH 62 million of public funds, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) informs.

"Under the procedural guidance of the SAPO prosecutor, NABU detectives reported suspicion of embezzlement of state funds in the amount of more than UAH 62 million to the head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, his deputy and other officials. Members of an organized group of six people are suspected of committing crimes," the SAPO telegram channel reported on Monday. According to the prosecutor's office, the actions of the individuals were classified as a crime under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

"As part of the pretrial investigation, it was established that officials of the State Special Communications Service, abusing their official position and acting as part of an organized group, seized budget funds on an especially large scale, totaling more than UAH 62 million," the report states.

SAPO clarifies that in 2021, the purchase of information technology tools intended to create a system of secure data registries took place. The winner of the purchase was a company controlled by the organizer of a criminal organization, which supplied software to the State Enterprise Ukrainian Special Systems, related to the State Special Communications Service, at an inflated cost.

"Under the terms of contracts for the supply of relevant software and services, the state-owned enterprise transferred more than UAH 285 million in 2021-2022. However, the real cost of the software that the company purchased from a foreign manufacturer amounted to UAH 223 million," the prosecutor's office reports.

According to the report, the difference in these funds amounting to more than UAH 62 million was transferred by participants in the criminal scheme to the accounts of controlled companies abroad for the purpose of legalization and distribution among members of the organized group.

Investigative actions are ongoing. Other persons who may be involved in the commission of this crime are being identified.