Based on materials of the SBI, the former management of Luhansk Housing and Maintenance Department will be judged for «laundering» over UAH 101 million during the purchase of timber for military needs

The employees of the State Bureau of Investigation have completed a pre-trial investigation into the former head of the Luhansk Housing and Maintenance Department and his accomplices. They embezzled over UAH 101 million during the purchase of fuel wood for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The indictment has been sent to the court.

According to the investigation, the illegal scheme was organized by the former head of the Luhansk Housing and Maintenance Department and his subordinate. They involved in the deal two current officials of the department, which is now stationed in Dnipro, and a private entrepreneur.

The participants in the scheme ensured the purchase of more than 66,000 cubic meters of fuel wood at inflated prices, bypassing the open bidding procedure. The contracts were concluded with indirect suppliers.

A total of 47 cases of purchases at inflated prices were documented. The amount of damage caused to the state exceeds UAH 101 million. The SBI employees established that the funds passed through the accounts of individual entrepreneurs who were actually controlled by the persons involved.

During the investigation, 28 searches were conducted, documents, computer equipment, mobile phones were seized, and more than 70 forensic examinations were appointed.

All five participants in the scheme are charged with misappropriation of property through abuse of office, committed repeatedly, under martial law, on an especially large scale (Part 3 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

In addition, the organizer and two other participants were additionally charged with legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means (Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the articles provides for a sentence of up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

In order to compensate for the damage caused to the state, the property of the accused has been seized.

The procedural guidance is provided by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for the Eastern Region.