Authorities have uncovered a scheme involving the misappropriation of more than 2.8 million hryvnias intended for the purchase of memorial crosses in Irpin, Kyiv region. The Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that three individuals have been charged in connection with the case.
The suspects include a representative of a private company, a public procurement officer, and a former deputy mayor of Irpin. Investigators allege that city officials colluded with private company representatives to arrange a procurement process that favored a pre-selected winner, violating Ukraine’s public procurement laws and effectively eliminating competition.
The only participant in the tender was a limited liability company that supplied 75 tombstones for the memorial. Investigations revealed that these items were imported from China at approximately 12,000 hryvnias each but were sold to the local budget for nearly 80,000 hryvnias per unit.
As a result, the total payment for the tombstones reached nearly 6 million hryvnias, with over 2.8 million hryvnias representing an overpayment. The preliminary investigation is being conducted under Article 191, Part 5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which addresses the misappropriation of budget funds in particularly large amounts.
Law enforcement agencies are actively working to identify all individuals involved in the scheme and the circumstances surrounding its execution.
A fraud investigation in Irpin has revealed a significant misappropriation of budget funds related to the purchase of memorial crosses. Three individuals have been charged as authorities continue to uncover the details of the scheme.