Deputy Minister of Energy Oleksandr Heil was exposed "red-handed" for receiving a bribe in the amount of USD 500,000 for the transfer of valuable coal mining equipment from the front-line territory to an enterprise in western Ukraine.
This follows from a statement by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NACB), the Ukrainian News agency reports.
The NACB and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SACPO), together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, exposed the current Deputy Minister of Energy for receiving a bribe of USD 500,000. The official was supposed to receive funds for granting a permit for the export of mining equipment from the front-line area to the enterprise in the west of Ukraine. At the same time, this equipment was subject to removal as a rescue, as it was located close to the combat zone.
"According to the investigation, the official, in collusion with the head of one of the state-owned coal enterprises from the East and two other persons, expressed a request to the head of another coal enterprise located in the western region to provide an illegal benefit in the amount of USD 500,000. For this, he promised to ensure the transfer for storage with the possibility of using valuable equipment for the extraction of coal from the mines of one state-owned enterprise to another," the message says.
Funds were transferred to the deputy minister in five installments of USD 100,000 at each meeting. He was exposed while handing over the third tranche of the bribe.
The NACB does not name the detainee, but according to Ukrainian News sources in the law enforcement agencies, it is Oleksandr Heil.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on August 9, the NACB completed an official investigation into the first deputy director, Gizo Uglava; the conclusion was handed over to the disciplinary commission.
The NACB and the SACPO succeeded in seizing the castle of russian-born businessman Oleksii Fedorychev in Italy.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.