NABU and Prosecutor’s Office exposed a scheme to seize grain worth UAH 776 million from the state-owned enterprise

NABU and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have exposed a large-scale corruption scheme to seize grain from JSC “State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine”.

The organized criminal group included former top officials of the state corporation and representatives of a foreign company, the NABU reported.

The investigation established that in 2021, the Corporation management concluded four foreign economic contracts with a non-resident company for the supply of feed corn.

Contrary to the terms of the contracts, which provided for 100% payment for the goods by the time the ownership was transferred, the original bills of lading for the cargo ended up with the buyer company. This allowed the ships to be unloaded without hindrance and the grain that had not been paid for was disposed of.

In order to hide this fact and create a false impression of control over the property, copies of bills of lading with forged signatures and seals were left at the Corporation.

As a result of such actions, the state corporation lost almost 106 thousand tons of grain worth UAH 776 million.

The organizers of the scheme legalized the funds received from the sale of stolen grain by constantly moving them between banks to mix with legal income, as well as by purchasing raw materials and property for controlled enterprises.

The following were informed about the suspicion:

• the former chairman of the board of JSC ” State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine “;

• the former director of the trading department of JSC ” State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine “;

• the director and ultimate beneficial owner of a non-resident company;

• the trustee of a representative of a non-resident company;

• an accomplice in the crime.

Earlier, USM reported that the court had arrested the TIS-Zerno warehouse and port infrastructure facilities in the case of the theft of grain from State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine.