The businessman from Lviv Region has tried to bribe one of the Heads of the SBI with 500 thousand US dollars

The SBI employees detained the businessman from Lviv Region - one of the biggest suppliers of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, who proposed 500 thousand US dollars to one of the Heads of the Main Investigation Department of the SBI.

The bribe was offered for facilitating the return of the assets, that were seized from the companies that were controlled by him, during the investigation of criminal proceeding.

Few months ago, the Bureau initiated the criminal proceeding on the fact of deals with purchases of clothes and undergarments for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The companies of businessman from Lviv Region have won 23 tenders for the supply of clothes to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for over 1,5 billion hryvnias.

During the investigation it was found that to fulfill the defense orders there was an involvement of the companies that were controlled by this businessman. These companies previously dealt with building and didn’t have any production, storage and other capacities that were required for making and storing the clothes and undergarments for needs of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. These actions have led to the losses of the budget for 1,2 billion hryvnias, according to preliminary estimates, and thwarting of deliveries.

The law enforcement officers have exposed total non-fulfillment of 6 contracts. At least in 7 agreements companies have delivered just a small part of goods to warehouses of military units but have received state funds for full implementation of the commitments.

It was also established that 8 agreements were delayed for the period of 3 to 5 months.

Analysis of international trade contracts and customs documents of these companies have revealed the facts of overestimation of the cost of goods that have been delivered for of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Involvement in the transactions of the former officials of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, who hadn’t taken any legal actions to ensure the implementation or termination of agreements, is being checked.

According to preliminary estimates the amount of losses could be more than 1 billion hryvnias.

The pre-trial investigation continues.

The issues of serving the notification of suspicion to the person involved under Part 3 Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (offer, promise or provision of undue advantage to an official) and choosing a measure of restraint in a form of detention in custody are being decided.

The sanction of the Article provides for imprisonment for up to 8 years.

The procedural guidance is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General.