Vinnytsia investigators announced suspicion of members of an organized criminal group that caused about 1.5 million damages to the state
On June 23, detective investigators of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Vinnytsia Oblast announced the suspicion of the chief forester and forester of one of the districts of the region, as well as an individual entrepreneur, who, according to a preliminary conspiracy, committed illegal felling of trees with its subsequent appropriation. The criminal plot, which caused significant damage to the state, was exposed under the operational support of the USBU of the region. The offenders were notified of suspicion under three articles of the Criminal Code.
According to the head of the GUNP in Vinnytsia region Ivan Ishchenko, during the pre-trial investigation it was established that the organizer of the criminal group — the main forester, together with the co-executors, distributed roles and functions, illegally cut down, transported and sold forest products. In order to hide his illegal actions, using his official position, the chief forester introduced knowingly false information and extracts of fictitious consignments of goods and transport invoices to the Unified Timber Accounting System, monitored the illegal transfers of especially valuable wood by co-executors and distributed the funds among all. In four months of this year, the attackers appropriated wood in the amount of about 1.5 million hryvnias.
During the searches conducted, investigators seized counterfeit goods and transport invoices, printouts of their register, logging tickets, inspection records of the workpiece, marks on trees, rough records.
Suspects were declared by detective investigators on suspicion of Art. 246 (illegal forfeiture or illegal transportation, storage, sale of forest), part 5 of Art. 191 (appropriation, squandering of property or possession of it by abuse of official position), Article 28 (commission of a criminal offense) a group of persons, a group of persons according to a previous conspiracy, an organized group or a criminal organization, and the organizer - also under Part 2 of Article 361 (unauthorized interference in the operation of electronic computers (computers), automated systems, computer networks) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The maximum penalty for such crimes is 12 years imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Investigation of criminal proceedings continues under the procedural guidance of the prosecutor's office of the region. The investigators petitioned the court to choose a preventive measure in the form of detention.
Police Communication Department of Vinnytsia Oblast
