Under the procedural supervision of the prosecutors of the Prosecutor General’s Office, two heads of companies were notified of suspicion for the legalization (laundering) of property obtained through criminal means in a particularly large amount (part 3 of Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, in January 2023, the accounts of a number of companies received more than UAH 160 million from the subcontractor of the construction of the Podilsky bridge crossing over the Dnipro in Kyiv. The funds were transferred as if as payment for construction work to strengthen the soil under the bridge supports and eliminate sand washings, which were not actually carried out.

The investigation established that the recipient companies did not carry out real economic activities and were used exclusively to mask the illegal origin of the funds and their subsequent withdrawal.

The directors of these societies were notified of suspicion. Searches were conducted at their place of residence, financial and economic documentation and means of communication were seized.

Currently, the pre-trial investigation is ongoing, measures are being taken to identify other persons involved in illegal activities, and the legality of the actions of the officials of the municipal company — the customer of the works and the manager of the budget funds, is being identified.

Documentation of criminal activity was carried out by prosecutors along with investigators of the National Police with operational support from the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine.

The sanction of the article charged provides for a penalty of 8 to 12 years imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Note: according to Art. 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.

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A scheme to launder more than UAH 160 million during the construction of the Podilsky Bridge in Kyiv has been exposed – two company managers are suspected