Detectives of the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have served notices of suspicion to three members of a criminal organization in Odesa who were detained the day before.
The NABU press service does not disclose their names, but it was reported that businessmen Borys Kaufman and Oleksandr Hranovskyy were detained in Odesa on 5 December.
In particular, a well-known Odesa businessman and a co-organizer of the criminal organization was served a notice of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 255 (establishment and leadership of a criminal organization) and Part 3 of Article 369 (offer, promise or provision of an undue advantage to an official) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. A member of parliament of the fourth convocation and another co-organizer of the criminal organization received a similar suspicion notice. It should be noted that Hranovskyy was an MP of this convocation.
In addition, a trustee and accomplice of the criminal organization was served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 255, Part 3 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The investigation established that in the autumn of 2021, after NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors had exposed a criminal organization specializing in corruption schemes for the illegal removal of Odesa property from community ownership, a new one was established.
According to the investigation, this criminal organization has taken control of almost all issues of economic life of the city, including relations with developers, procurement at the expense of the local budget, activities of communal enterprises, other aspects of business life.
"In order to ensure the smooth implementation of its goals, the organizers systematically bribed officials and local councillors, as confirmed by the evidence," the NABU said.
According to the SAPO, the criminal organization also controlled officials of the Odesa city council.
It should be noted that Kaufman is a former deputy of the Odesa city council. He is the owner of the Vertex United group and co-owner of Tedis-Ukraine.
Businessman Oleksandr Hranovskyy was a people's deputy of Ukraine on the list of the SDPU (o) faction in 2002-2006.
On 5 December, the NABU was reported to have detained Odesa businessman Borys Kaufman. Also, investigative actions were carried out in the Odesa mayor's office.