Ukraine’s former infrastructure minister and his former first deputy have been notified on suspicion of abuse of power and office, causing more than $30 million in losses to the state, the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office has said.
“On February 22, 2023, under the procedural guidance of the SAP prosecutor, NABU detectives reported on suspicion of abuse of power and office, causing the state more than $30 million of damage to the former Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine and his former first deputy. Actions of the ex-officials are qualified according to the signs of the crime stipulated by part 2 of article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine”, – said in the message of the SAP in Telegram-channel on Wednesday.
Given that the location of the former first deputy minister is not established, the suspicion of him was informed in absentia – in the order determined by article 135, article 278 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine.
According to the materials of the investigation, in 2015, the minister together with his deputy, who was also the chairman of the Tariff Council of the Ministry of Infrastructure, issued an order that allowed private companies to charge half the rate of ship fees from ships in the seaport “Pivdenniy”. This order was issued despite the fact that the water area of this port is state property and is used by the AMPU and the right to the meeting belongs exclusively to the state enterprise.
Under this order, the state enterprise was assigned only part of the funds, while the other part was charged by private companies. As a result, the state suffered more than $30 million of damage, which is confirmed by the corresponding conclusions of the expertise.
Pre-trial investigation into the case continues, other persons who may be involved in the commission of this crime are being detected.
The SAP report does not specify the names of the suspects.
In 2015, the Minister of Infrastructure was Andriy Pyvovarskyy, his first deputy – Volodymyr Shulmeister.
