In Transcarpathia, Owner of 'PLAZA' Shopping Center Illegally Paid for Electricity at Residential Rates for Five Years – Prosecutor's Office

Law enforcement agencies in Transcarpathia have launched a criminal investigation against a businessman who, according to the prosecutor's office, illegally appropriated funds from state energy companies through a fraudulent scheme related to electricity tariffs for five years. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported that the suspect arranged documentation in such a way that it appeared that electricity was being consumed by a residential building, although in reality, it was used for the operation of the 'PLAZA' shopping center.

According to information provided by the prosecutor's office, the investigation believes that the entrepreneur forged a contract for the distribution of electricity and failed to inform the supplier about the actual nature of the consumption. This resulted in electricity being supplied at a significantly lower household tariff for almost five years, which considerably reduced the entrepreneur's utility expenses.

From July 2019 to April 2024, through this fraudulent scheme, the businessman unlawfully acquired over 2.95 million hryvnias from the state enterprise 'Energoatom' and more than 537 thousand hryvnias from 'Ukrhydroenergo'. The total amount of damages inflicted on the state exceeds 3.4 million hryvnias, which constitutes a serious financial crime.

The actions of the entrepreneur have been classified as fraud in especially large amounts, as well as document forgery, in accordance with part 5 of Article 190 and part 3 of Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This indicates the seriousness of the offense and the possibility of strict punishment for the guilty party.

Currently, prosecutors are preparing a petition to the court for the selection of a preventive measure, as well as for the arrest of the suspect's property. This is standard practice in cases where there is a risk of the suspect fleeing or the possibility of destroying evidence. Law enforcement agencies are also actively investigating the potential involvement of other individuals in this fraudulent scheme, which may indicate the systemic nature of this offense.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Main Investigative Department of the National Police of Ukraine, which aims to clarify all circumstances of the case and hold all guilty parties accountable. It is crucial that such cases of fraud are identified and punished, as they harm not only the state but also all citizens who pay for electricity.