SBI foils fraud scheme to misappropriate nearly 500 hectares of state-owned land in Dnipropetrovsk region

This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation, according to Ukrinform.

As noted, part of the plots, 239.34 hectares worth about UAH 24 million, were illegally transferred into private ownership through straw purchasers. Most of these were later alienated in favor of a single ultimate beneficiary and related parties. In total, they consolidated ownership of 106 plots covering 206 hectares.

SBI investigators served suspicion notices to the following individuals: the former head of the StateGeoCadastre of Ukraine (official negligence, Part 2, Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); the former Head of the Main Department of the State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre in the Dnipropetrovsk region, now a city council deputy (misappropriation of state property, Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); the former Head of a district office of the State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre in the Dnipropetrovsk region (misappropriation of state property, Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); and the former Head of the state enterprise “DG Dnipro” of the National Scientific Center “Institute of Agriculture NAAS” (misappropriation of state property, Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

They face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

A decision is pending on the selection of preventive measures for the suspects.

The SBI is taking steps to return the illegally misappropriated lands to state ownership and to hold all involved parties accountable.

As reported, law enforcement officers previously uncovered a scheme to illegally seize agricultural lands worth over UAH 17.6 million in the Zhytomyr region.

Photo: SBI