The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has served a notice of suspicion to the former head of the Kherson regional administration, Hennadiy Lahuta.
According to its website, he is charged with violations under Part 3 of Article 358 (forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps) and Part 4 of Article 190 (fraud).
The SBU is currently investigating one of the episodes related to illegal appropriation of property - the former official appropriated a car that was provided to him for temporary free use during the full-scale invasion.
According to the investigation, in the spring of 2022, the then official asked a local businesswoman to provide him with an SUV for free "for official purposes". The woman agreed, but in July 2022, Lahuta took advantage of her absence from Ukraine and decided to privatize the car through a private notary.
"Thus, he received a power of attorney from a notary authorizing him to dispose of the car (including selling it, leasing it on terms of his own choosing). Then the official 'sold' the car to his subordinate, the head of the patronage service of the Kherson regional military administration, and the next day he 'resold' it back to his superior," the SBU said.
The car has now been seized, and during the examination it was found that the signature of the real owner was forged on the "notarized power of attorney".
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing to establish other possible facts of illegal activity.
Lahuta is facing up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.