Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General, the former head of the Department of Education and Science of the Volyn Regional State Administration has been notified of suspicion of embezzlement of budget funds in particularly large amounts, through abuse of office, in conditions of martial law (Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, in November-December 2022, the Department of Education purchased 143 sets of television and audiovisual equipment for the arrangement of shelters in educational institutions of the region. More than 25.4 million UAH was spent from the budget under contracts with two suppliers.

At the same time, as established by the expertise, the cost of this equipment was significantly inflated. The difference between the actual market price and the amount paid by the department amounted to over 7.5 million UAH. 

The documentation and exposure were carried out by prosecutors in cooperation with investigators from the National Police, with operational support from the Department of Counterintelligence Protection of State Interests in the Field of Information Security of the Security Service of Ukraine. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Under the incriminated article, the maximum punishment provides for imprisonment for a term of 7 to 12 years, with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years and confiscation of property.

Note: according to Article 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 guilty verdict of the court.