In Ivano-Frankivsk, a corruption scheme in the field of urban development was exposed, where city council officials together with the head of a municipal enterprise took bribes for issuing permits. The total amount of the unlawful benefit is USD 26 thousand. The three suspects in the case have been detained and served with a notice of suspicion of bribery.
Briefly about the main points
- Officials of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council demanded USD 26 thousand in bribes
- Three participants were detained and served with a notice of suspicion
- 25 searches were conducted with the seizure of cash, vehicles and weapons
- The investigation is ongoing, other persons involved are being identified
The essence of the corruption scheme in urban planning in Ivano-Frankivsk
Officials of the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture, the State Architectural and Construction Control Office, and the director of a specialised utility company organised a mechanism for receiving bribes for permits. They turned the issuance of urban planning conditions, building restrictions and registration of construction work into a paid service for developers and entrepreneurs. About. reports Office of the Prosecutor General.
The director of the ME was the main contact with the applicants, voicing the «taxi», persistently convincing them of the need to pay and directly collecting cash. City council officials drafted and signed the necessary decisions, which effectively guaranteed assistance in the subsequent lease of municipal land to private ownership.
Documented facts and amounts of bribes
The amount of bribes received was recorded at USD 26 thousand. In particular, USD 10,000 was received from a local businesswoman for construction passports for three plots. A representative of a chain of construction supermarkets paid $5,000 for urban planning conditions and restrictions for one plot. Another USD 11,000 was received from a construction company in two tranches for permits and registration of the start of construction.
Operational actions of law enforcement agencies
The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Prosecutor's Office jointly with the SBU conducted 25 searches at the residences, cars and workplaces of the suspects and other persons involved. During the searches, significant amounts of cash, vehicles and weapons were seized, which demonstrates the scale and organisation of the scheme.
All three participants were notified of suspicion of part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - obtaining an unlawful benefit. The director of the utility company was also charged with aiding and abetting the crime. A motion to the court to impose a custodial measure of restraint is being prepared.
Prospects for the investigation and impact on the construction industry
The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officers are identifying other individuals involved and additional facts of bribery in the region's construction industry. The revelation of this scheme calls into question the transparency and legality of the issuance of permits in Ivano-Frankivsk, which may affect the further development of urban planning and the investment climate.
Successful exposing corruption will serve as a signal to other regions of Ukraine about the importance of combating bribery in urban planning and will help to increase the level of control over urban planning processes.
