Defense officials in Vinnytsia charged with overpriced military purchases
Senior Defense Ministry officials in
Vinnytsia Oblast are suspected to have signed “non-competitive” supply
contracts at inflated prices, Ukraine’s National Police announced on Feb.
26.
According to the message, the corrupt scheme involved purchasing overpriced army beds, causing UAH 4.3 million ($112,000) in damages to the state budget. It was arranged by the head of one of the ministry's departments, along with two subordinates.
The investigators claim that the 39-year-old department head, with the assistance of a 68-year-old and a 44-year-old subordinate, bypassing the legally established procedures, acquired 2,000 beds for the military at prices above the market rate.
During searches of the officials' work premises, police seized one million hryvnias ($26,000) in cash, documents, and computer equipment.
The suspects now face up to 12 years in prison, with confiscation of property.
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