Million-dollar scheme to embezzle budget funds allocated for IDPs exposed in Lviv region

This was reported by the  Security Service of Ukraine, according to Espreso.

As noted, it is about financial assistance aimed at meeting the basic needs of internally displaced persons, which was allocated by the Ministry of Social Policy.

"Due to the criminal mechanism created, only one of the episodes caused almost one million hryvnias in damage to the state. As the operatives established, one of the business entities from Lviv region was allocated about UAH 9 million under the state program. However, the entrepreneur misappropriated the budget funds, as he did not actually provide the full range of services to ensure the accommodation of IDPs," the Security Service of Ukraine said.

Also, a certain number of IDPs for whom he received money were already abroad.

"Thus, the organized scheme allowed the offender to misappropriate almost one million hryvnias of budget funds. Investigations into other persons involved in the proceedings are ongoing," the agency added.

The man was served a notice of suspicion of misappropriation, embezzlement, or seizure of property by abuse of office (Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code) and a measure of restraint was imposed on him.

• Also recently, a gang of racketeers posing as military and law enforcement officers was exposed in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.