BEB completed the investigation into the case of embezzlement of funds during the repair of the infrastructure of the Odessa port

The Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine has completed a pre-trial investigation into the case of embezzlement of state funds during the repair of railway infrastructure in the Odessa port. According to the investigation, the losses to the state amount to almost 5 million hryvnias.

As reported by the Territorial Department of the BEB in the Odessa region, the scheme operated in 2023. According to the investigation, the founder of a private company, the director of a controlled company, and officials of the Odessa branch of the Sea Ports Administration of Ukraine were involved in it.

Investigators established that even at the stage of preparing the design and estimate documentation, the defendants artificially inflated the cost of construction materials. During the performance of the work, they entered false information about the cost of rails, sleepers, switches, and other materials into official documents.

According to the BEB, the prices for individual items exceeded the market price by two to three times. To mask the scheme, fake invoices were used on behalf of third-party companies, which later confirmed that no deliveries were made.

The total amount of funds transferred to the contractor under the contract exceeded 15.3 million hryvnias.

The organizer of the scheme was reported on suspicion of organizing the embezzlement of state funds in particularly large amounts. Another defendant is charged with embezzlement of property, official forgery, and use of forged documents.

The indictment has already been submitted to the court.