Police have uncovered two large-scale schemes involving the misappropriation of natural gas, which caused losses exceeding 400 million UAH, as well as their organizer.
This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform.
“The criminal schemes were exposed by investigators of the Main Investigative Department of the National Police and operatives of the Strategic Investigations Department together with the Security Service of Ukraine,” the National Police stated.
It is noted that officials of a private company, acting in collusion with affiliated enterprises, illegally misappropriated natural gas belonging both to the state operator of Ukraine’s gas transmission system and to a foreign company—a major trader—through document forgery and unauthorized interference in information systems.
According to the investigation, in the first case, the volume of stolen gas amounted to 86 million cubic meters, causing losses of more than 250 million UAH to the state enterprise.
“In the second case, the organizer, together with accomplices, misappropriated gas belonging to a foreign trader, causing damages amounting to nearly 5 million euros (over 150 million UAH). The total damage exceeds 400 million UAH,” police reported.
In particular, law enforcement established that the illegally obtained gas was resold through several affiliated companies, while the funds were laundered by being entered into the authorized capital of commercial entities.
According to the police, one of the enterprises alone increased its authorized capital from 2,600 UAH to 200 million UAH.
The National Police further reported that to disguise the activity, the organizer used fictitious financial and economic transactions through third-party companies.
“In total, more than 196 million UAH was transferred through them, which was then documented the same day as contributions to the authorized capital. Part of the funds from the schemes was spent on the purchase of luxury real estate in the capital,” the report stated.
According to the investigation, forensic economic examinations and audits confirmed the damages: more than 250 million UAH to the state enterprise and nearly 5 million euros to the foreign company.
“Additionally, it was established that more than 15 million UAH was siphoned off through suspicious financial operations to conceal its origin,” the National Police stated.
Law enforcement officers therefore served notices of suspicion to the organizer of the fraud schemes—the director of the private company—as well as his accomplices, who held managerial positions in the company. Their actions were qualified under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation or embezzlement of property on an especially large scale) and Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (legalization of proceeds obtained by criminal means). The sanctions under these articles provide for up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement is carrying out further investigative and operational actions to bring all participants of the fraud schemes to justice and ensure compensation for the damages.
Procedural supervision in the case is being conducted by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
As reported by Ukrinform, in the Cherkasy region, law enforcement officers exposed a former enterprise manager who embezzled fuel from the state gas transmission system worth 251 million UAH.
Source: Losses exceed 400 million: Two large-scale gas fraud schemes exposed in Ukraine
