Ex-officials will be tried for frauds worth 25 million in the port of Chornomorsk

The former first deputy head of the Water Resources Agency of Ukraine is among the accused.

Indictments against the exhibitors were sent to the court. They are accused of swindling land in the water area of the Chornomorsk port for almost UAH 25 million, writes the National Police of the Odesa region.

Among the accused:

• former First Deputy Head of the Water Resources Agency of Ukraine;

• former Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources;

• former mayor of Chornomorsk;

• former head of the State Water Agency department.

According to the investigation, in these positions they developed a scheme to remove from state ownership a plot of land located in the water area of the Black Sea port.

“Contrary to the legislation and without agreement with the Cabinet of Ministers, the parties involved granted permission and approved the land management project. Thus, a plot of 0.7 hectares in the water area of the Dry Estuary was set aside. Later, the land was illegally transferred to the society for a long-term lease for the construction of facilities,” the police said.

As a result of the scheme, the state suffered losses in the amount of almost UAH 25 million.

As previously reported by USM, in February 2023, four participants of the “scheme” with land in the port water area of the Black Sea branch of the SE “Seaports Administration of Ukraine” were informed of suspicions. Exhibitors may face up to six years in prison.