Million-dollar scheme: theft of UAH 5.6 million during the purchase of medical equipment was discovered in Vinnytsia region

In Vinnytsia region, law enforcement officers have uncovered significant embezzlement of budget funds related to the purchase of medical equipment.

The amount of losses for the state exceeds UAH 5.6 million as a result of illegal actions by a group of individuals, as reported by BEB.

Detectives of the Territorial Department of the Bureau of Economic Security in Vinnytsia region have uncovered an organized group that was engaged in the appropriation of budget funds during the purchase of medical equipment.

According to the materials of the pre-trial investigation, in 2024, officials of municipal medical institutions of Vinnytsia region and other regions of Ukraine created a scheme for the purchase of medical equipment at inflated prices. Representatives of a company importing the relevant equipment were involved in the implementation of this scheme.

To hide their activities, the participants used a network of controlled individual entrepreneurs. The supplier sold equipment to these individual entrepreneurs at market prices, but during public procurement, prices were intentionally increased.

As a result of three purchases under this scheme, the state budget suffered losses in the amount of UAH 5.6 million.

Based on the collected evidence, the actions of four individuals were qualified under Part 3, 5 of Article 27 and Part 4, 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This concerns the organization and aiding in the embezzlement of another person’s property, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons under martial law and in particularly large amounts.

Sanctions under these articles provide for a penalty in the form of imprisonment for a term of 7 to 12 years, as well as a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in relevant activities for a term of up to three years, with confiscation of property.

Preventive measures have already been selected for the organizer and three participants in this scheme. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Employees of the SBU Department in Vinnytsia Region provide operational support for the case, and the Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor’s Office is responsible for procedural management.

Detectives also completed a pre-trial investigation into the case of members of a criminal organization that illegally sold tickets for international trains. According to preliminary estimates, Ukrzaliznytsia suffered losses of over UAH 8 million.