The case regarding the seizure of 32 UDS vessels was referred to court

A case has been sent to court against six individuals who seized 32 vessels, converted them into 12 barges and illegally appropriated them.

This was reported by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office prosecutor has sent to court an indictment in the case against two former deputies of the Odesa Regional Council, the former chairman of the board of PrJSC “Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company” and three employees of legal entities controlled by the deputies, who organized a criminal scheme, the implementation of which led to the loss of 32 vessels belonging to the UDS and the imposition of losses in the amount of UAH 82.654 million.

As part of the pre-trial investigation, it was established that in early August 2017, a deputy of the Odesa Regional Council had a criminal intent to seize someone else’s property, namely UDS lighters, in order to subsequently build larger barges from them, necessary for the economic activities of companies controlled by him.

To carry out this crime, the person involved another deputy of the regional council, as well as the chairman of the board of PJSC “UDS” and controlled persons, as a co-organizer. The functions of each participant in the scheme were clearly distributed.

Acting in accordance with the scheme, the perpetrators ensured the conclusion of charter contracts with a predetermined company, not related to either the organizers of the crime or the companies controlled by them.

In November 2017, in accordance with the contract, 18 lighters worth over UAH 44.3 million were transferred to this company. The following year, having misled the new management of PrJSC “UDS”, the criminals concluded additional agreements on the transfer of another 14 lighters worth UAH 38.35 million.

Subsequently, 32 lighters were transported to Turkey, where 12 of them were made into barges with a larger capacity. After that, the barges were towed to Ukraine and registered with controlled companies.

With the assistance of the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s Office and NABU, the 12 mentioned barges were seized, and later they were transferred to the ARMA administration.

Given that four suspects are wanted, a special pre-trial investigation (in absentia) was conducted against them.

Earlier, USM reported that UDS had improved the efficiency of the river fleet.