Ex-deputy interior minister, two other persons detained on suspicion of embezzling UAH 14 mln - NABU
Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) carried out a number of searches on Tuesday, October 31, as a result of three persons were detained on suspicion of embezzling more than UAH 14 million – the former deputy minister of internal affairs of Ukraine, representative of a firm which won a tender for supply of backpacks and another individual, according to the official website of NABU.
"The issue of charging them officially is being currently considered. The offense is qualified under Part 5 of Article 139 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of official position).
According to the investigation, in 2015, the said persons were involved in procurement at the expense of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine backpacks at a price much higher than the average market price. According to the information of the pre-trial investigation, the goods were not delivered on time and besides did not meet the requirements established by the Interior Ministry, as a result of which the state suffered losses of more than UAH 14 million.
"At present, urgent investigative actions are being carried out, the circle of persons involved is being established. The investigation into these facts has been conducted by detectives of the NABU since 2016," the report said.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov earlier confirmed reports that representatives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted searches in the apartment of his son, Oleksandr.
Later, the ex-adviser to the head of the Interior Ministry, leader of the Socialist Party of Ukraine, Illia Kiva and MP Sergiy Leschenko of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc reported the detention of Oleksandr Avakov in Kyiv.
The agency also learned about the detention of former Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Chebotar in the same case after searches were held in Kharkiv.
In 2015, a senior investigator for especially important cases of the Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal investigation into possible abuse during the purchase of backpacks for the Interior Ministry and the National Guard.
According to media reports, in February 2015, the Interior Ministry concluded contracts with Dniprovend Ltd. for 5,000 backpacks worth UAH 14.49 million and businessman Volodymyr Plihachov for 1,000 backpacks worth UAH 2.1 million. In June 2015, journalists conducted an investigation saying that backpacks had been purchased through enterprises controlled by Avakov.