NABU charges state officials with alleged drone procurement scam
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) reported this on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.
“Under the procedural guidance of a SAPO prosecutor, NABU detectives served notices of suspicion to two SSSCIP officials and two representatives of private companies involved in organizing and implementing a criminal scheme to embezzle funds during the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. The actions of the individuals are classified under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” the report states.
It is noted that in 2023, after amendments to the state budget were approved, the SSSCIP received 30 billion UAH for drone procurement.
The pre-trial investigation established that the head of one of the SSSCIP departments devised a plan to misappropriate part of these funds.
According to the report, “under the criminal plan, drone deliveries were to be carried out by pre-selected companies at inflated prices. To ensure that these companies won the tenders, controlled firms were involved to imitate competition, and distorted market research was also provided.”
Law enforcement determined that between May and September 2023, the SSSCIP purchased 400 DJI Mavic 3 drones and 1,300 Autel Evo Max 4T drones at prices 70 to 90 percent above market value.
It is also reported that the proceeds from selling these drones were transferred to accounts of companies under the scheme participants’ control.
According to the SAPO, these actions caused the state budget more than 90 million UAH in losses.
“Thanks to the timely actions of the NABU and SAPO, more than 4 million US dollars in accounts of foreign companies and 17 million UAH in Ukraine have been seized,” the NABU added.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Other individuals possibly involved in the crime are being identified.
As reported earlier, law enforcement detained the head of a public organization who demanded an unlawful benefit from a commander of a military unit in Boryspil district of Kyiv region in exchange for alleged influence over the allocation of funds for drone procurement.
Photo: NABU
