Former head of Defence Ministry department suspected of embezzling UAH 322 million

Ex-head of Defence Ministry department suspected of embezzling UAH 322 million on water supply

According to the SBI, the former head of one of the departments of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine During martial law, the Ministry of Defence entered into two unfavourable contracts for the supply of water for the needs of the military. As a result, the Ministry of Defence suffered losses of over UAH 322 million.

What the SBI says

The investigation established that the official, exceeding his authority, signed contracts with an inflated value without checking the economic feasibility.
As a result, the state overpaid hundreds of millions of hryvnias for water that was to be supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

«The former official was served a notice of suspicion of negligence in military service, which led to grave consequences. The sanction of the article provides for up to 8 years in prison,» the State Bureau of Investigation.

Context.

The procurement took place during martial law. The SBI is checking the involvement of other officials and representatives of the supplier companies.
Some media outlets report that it may be the former head of one of the MoD's departments, but the name of the defendant is not officially disclosed.

What's next

Investigators prepare motions for preventive measures and conduct examinations to determine the exact amount of damage and verify the performance of contracts.