“Seized electricity for 716 million UAH during martial law: the case was referred to court NABU referred to court the case regarding the scheme of seizing Ukrenergo’s electricity for 716 million UAH during martial law. Four persons, including a banker and an official of Ukrenergo, have been indicted.”, — write on: unn.ua
Details
As the investigation established, in March 2022 United Energy LLC, at that time one of the largest traders in Ukraine, through manipulation took over the electric energy of PJSC NEC Ukrenergo in the amount of over UAH 716 million, and the proceeds from its sale were legalized. by transferring to the accounts of a non-resident company registered on the territory of the Swiss Confederation.
During the legalization of funds, in order to make it impossible to identify their origin on the territory of Ukraine, a number of controlled companies were involved, whose accounts were subsequently seized.
The seizure of electric energy and the legalization of funds from its sale became possible due to the abuse of the official position of the chairman of the board of one of the commercial banks and the head of the department of PrJSC NEC Ukrenergo.
The chairman of the board of the bank made a decision to issue a bank guarantee to a private company alone and in violation of the established procedure. After the private company incurred a debt to PrJSC NEC Ukrenergo, the state-owned enterprise appealed to the bank to repay such debt, but the head of the board wrongfully refused.
At the same time, the head of the department of PrJSC “NEC” Ukrenergo, despite the company’s debt for the previously withdrawn electricity, did not take measures to put the company into default and ensured the future sale of electricity.
On January 11, 2024, NABU and SAP exposed the scheme and reported the suspicion:
to the organizer, the owner of the non-resident company – Part 5 of Art. 191 and Part 3 of Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
to the director of the department of PJSC “NEC “Ukrenergo” – Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
to the head of the board of a commercial bank – Part 2 of Art. 364-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
to the director of a private company – Part 5 of Art. 191 and Part 3 of Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The investigation was completed in March 2024.
Let’s add
According to law enforcement officers, funds in the amount of more than 700 million hryvnias in the accounts of companies registered in Ukraine involved in the scheme have been seized for the purpose of special confiscation.
In the order of international cooperation, the funds in the accounts of the Swiss company controlled by the organizer of the scheme were also seized. At the same time, attempts to lift the arrest by interested persons by sending forged letters on behalf of detectives and prosecutors to the relevant foreign law enforcement agencies were recorded.
NABU noted that during the investigation there was an attempt to bribe the detectives and prosecutors who were conducting the pre-trial investigation, for which one of the capital’s lawyers was notified of the suspicion.
In addition, with the aim of preventing market participants from incurring significant debts to PJSC NEC Ukrenergo, NABU submitted proposals to the NCRECP regarding amendments to certain provisions of the Market Rules, which were supported.