Greece detains suspect in embezzlement of UAH 43 million from Ukraine's Defense Ministry

The Office of the Prosecutor General reports.

It is noted that the suspect, in collusion with other persons, obtained funds that a limited liability company received as an advance payment under contracts concluded with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for the purchase of military goods.

Subsequently, the funds were transferred to the accounts of individual entrepreneurs for the alleged provision of works and services. The crime was committed between March 2 and May 10, 2022. At that time, the suspect was a director of the company.

Thus, on July 12, 2022, the suspect was served a suspicion notice of misappropriation of another's property by abuse of official position and disposal of property obtained by criminal means, committed on a particularly large scale by an organized group.

Later, on November 6, 2023, prosecutors sent a request to the competent Greek authorities for the detention and temporary arrest of the person in question. Also, in the framework of cooperation with Interpol, a request was made to issue a Red Notice.

As a result, the suspect was detained, and the decision of the Athens Court of Appeal applied a temporary arrest. The necessary documents are currently being prepared to send a request for extradition to Ukraine for criminal prosecution.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt is proved in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict of guilty.

• The day before, former MP and developer Maksym Mykytas was charged with embezzling UAH 307 million from the Defense Ministry during the construction of warehouses in 2018.