$100,000 for Track Dismantling: Ukrzaliznytsia Official Arrested for Bribery

In a significant corruption case, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko revealed via his Telegram channel that an official from the state-owned enterprise Ukrzaliznytsia has been apprehended for soliciting a bribe amounting to $100,000. According to Kravchenko, this sum was required to resolve issues related to the dismantling and decommissioning of a railway track that obstructed the expansion of a granite production facility in the Khmelnytskyi region.

The details surrounding the corruption scheme indicate that it was meticulously orchestrated. Initially, a so-called 'seasonal inspection' was initiated, resulting in a commission deeming the railway track unprofitable. Following this assessment, the process of dismantling, decommissioning, and removing the track from official registries commenced.

Moreover, the official assured a representative from the granite production company that he would facilitate the transfer of the land beneath the track to the local community for quarrying purposes. He claimed that the procedure would be complex and would require approvals from the management of Ukrzaliznytsia, the Ministry of Infrastructure, and other relevant specialized departments.

The Prosecutor General noted that the individual involved promised to carry out all necessary actions 'turnkey' within a timeframe of 3 to 6 months, citing his experience working with the Lviv Railway. The demand for payment in advance for the completed work further indicated the intent to gain illicit benefits.

The arrest of the official occurred during the receipt of cash. During a personal search, law enforcement officials seized not only the money but also a handwritten receipt. Authorities also conducted searches at the suspect's residence, workplace, and vehicle.

The official has been charged under part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which stipulates penalties for receiving illicit benefits in particularly large amounts. If found guilty, the individual could face imprisonment ranging from 8 to 12 years, along with the confiscation of property.

Kravchenko also reported that a petition has already been submitted to the court for the suspect's detention. The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement examining potential additional instances of corrupt activities and other involved parties.

It is worth noting that this is not the first instance of Ukrzaliznytsia employees being suspected of corrupt practices. Recently, law enforcement in the Prykarpattia region uncovered that employees of the company had embezzled over 900,000 hryvnias.

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