KYIV. Nov 16 (Interfax) - Detectives from the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted searches and detained an eighth suspect as part of an inquiry into embezzlement of funds from the 'Wall' project to build fences and dig a ditch on the border with Russia.
"The suspect may have been involved in a corruption scheme aimed at taking possession of massive amounts of money from the Ukrainian national budget, allocated for equipping the Russian-Ukrainian state border, the so-called 'Wall' project. The suspect abetted the embezzlement of the money by Border Guard officials and top managers from general contracting enterprises," a NABU spokesperson said on Thursday.
The man had arranged for the acquisition of a dummy firm, and throughout 2015-2016 used it to cash funds received from the enterprises contracted by the State Border Guard Service to equip the border, NABU said.
"In all, according to the inquiry, this enterprise was used to convert over 10 million hryvni (around $4 million) allocated for equipping the border into cash, which was subsequently obtained by participants in the criminal scheme," NABU said.
The suspect is now being questioned. His indictment and restraining measure will be decided upon shortly.
NABU detectives have been probing the 'Wall' project embezzlements since March 2016, the bureau said. According to the inquiry, the criminal activities are estimated to have resulted in over 16 million hryvni in losses to the state.
The other seven suspects are currently under arrest, the total bail sum set by the court is 25.5 million hryvni.