Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has uncovered a scheme involving the alleged theft of oil products belonging to Ukrnafta worth more than 2.88 billion hryvnias, or about $65 million.
The agency announced the findings on its Telegram channel.
“NABU has uncovered a large-scale scheme to seize Ukrnafta’s oil products and launder the proceeds from their sale,” the statement said.
According to investigators, executives of an unnamed business group organised the theft of 100,000 tonnes of oil products. The fuel was initially transferred to a company under their control under commission agreements. Some of the products were then transferred to other affiliated companies, which sold them both wholesale and retail through a network of petrol stations.
According to NABU, proceeds from the sale of the oil products were transferred to controlled companies, including those registered abroad.
NABU has charged four people in connection with the alleged scheme. They include a senior-level alleged organiser, whom the agency describes as one of the leaders of a well-known business group that effectively controlled Ukraine’s oil and gas sector.
Charges have also been brought against a lower-level alleged organiser, as well as the chairman and deputy chairman for commercial affairs of companies linked to the group.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
