Photo: National Police
The National Police of Ukraine has uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme involving a former adviser to the former Deputy Minister of Defence, a Member of Parliament of the II-IV convocations, his son and an international fraudster. The criminals embezzled more than $10 million using corruption schemes in the procurement of military uniforms for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the National Police on Thursday, 28 November.
According to law enforcement, the fraudster, who had previously been prosecuted in France, Spain, Turkey and Indonesia, organised a system of overpriced military uniforms. He agreed with a textile holding company in Turkey to produce the uniforms at a cost of $25.6 million, and then entered into agreements with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine worth $35 million through a controlled company.
As a result, the criminals misappropriated the difference of more than $10 million. A former MP and an adviser to the former Deputy Minister of Defence played a key role in lobbying for these contracts. After the agreement was signed, the Turkish manufacturer received an advance payment of $10 million, but after the products were delivered to Ukraine, it was left without the rest of the amount, and the fraudsters stopped contacting it.
Later, it turned out that the organiser spent the stolen funds on the purchase of luxury real estate, cars and other assets, including abroad.
During the searches, law enforcement officers seized documents, cars, mobile phones and computers with evidence of illegal transactions. The advisor, ex-MP and his son were served a notice of suspicion of fraud on a large scale. The issue of seizing their property is currently being decided. The defendants face up to 12 years in prison.
