Former Ukrainian Railways Head Charged for Multi-million Hryvnia Fraud – Sky Bulletin
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Yevhen Kravtsov, the ex-chair of the board for Ukrainian Railways, also known as Ukrzaliznytsia, has been indicted for his alleged involvement in an embezzlement scheme that defrauded the state-owned company of approximately 11.4 million hryvnias (close to $300,000), as per reports from Ukrainska Pravda and Forbes Ukraine on February 28, referencing sources.
On February 26, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) made a public announcement about exposing a fraudulent operation within Ukrainian Railways.
Although specific individuals were not named by the anti-corruption bodies, it was disclosed that the suspects encompassed both business figures and officials from Ukrainian Railways.
The investigative reports stated that an unnamed businessman, who was also the head of the criminal organization, initiated the scheme to exert influence over the economic activities of Ukrainian Railways back in 2018.
With intent to infiltrate the company’s management, the businessman leveraged his connections to government officials and ensured the appointment of his group’s affiliates into crucial positions within Ukrainian Railways.
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The embezzlement, which occurred from 2018 to 2021, involved rigging a tender for pneumatic tools, where the businessman’s company was chosen and goods were supplied at inflated prices to various branches of Ukrainian Railways. The excessive charges amounted to the 11.4 million hryvnias in question.
A total of nine individuals have been charged in relation to this case, which includes two top figures of the criminal ring and several officials from Ukrzaliznytsia.
On February 26, the ringleader was placed under custody.
Yevhen Kravtsov, served as a board chair of Ukrainian Railways from January 2019 to December 2019 and was in an acting role from August 2017 to January 2019. He also functioned as a deputy infrastructure minister from May 2016 to August 2017.
FAQ Section
- Who is Yevhen Kravtsov?
- Yevhen Kravtsov is the former chairman of the board of Ukrainian Railways.
- What are the charges against Yevhen Kravtsov?
- Kravtsov is charged in connection with an embezzlement case involving roughly 11.4 million hryvnias (~$300,000).
- What agency uncovered the embezzlement scheme?
- The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced the discovery of the embezzlement scheme.
- How many people have been charged?
- A total of nine individuals, including two leaders of the criminal organization and six Ukrzaliznytsia officials, have been charged.
Conclusion
The indictment of Yevhen Kravtsov marks a critical step in addressing corruption within major state enterprises in Ukraine. The diligent work of NABU and SAPO in uncovering the complex embezzlement scheme at Ukrainian Railways reaffirms their commitment to combating corruption and enforcing transparency. This case is a reminder of the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces and the importance of supporting independent journalism to shed light on such illicit activities.
Note: The information in this article has been restructured and sourced from various internet resources by AI news feed technology. The original information can be referenced through the link to The Kyiv Independent for further details.
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