Gas theft case: court arrests people’s deputy Dubnevich in absentia – SAP

The people’s deputy, suspected of embezzling gas worth 2 billion hryvnias, was elected in absentia as a preventive measure in the form of arrest. This was reported by the Specialist Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP).

The surname of the deputy is not specified, but we are probably talking about the current deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, Yaroslav Dubnevich.

“The court accepted the request of NABU detectives, which the SAPO prosecutor also accepted, and chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for the suspect in question,” the statement said.

It was noted that the arrest warrant of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court was given on November 13. The issue of implementation of the preventive measure will be decided after the deputy is detained.

Additionally, the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office stated that the deputy is suspected of embezzling UAH 93 million from Ukrzaliznytsia. As part of this case, Yaroslav Dubnevich was placed on the international wanted list on November 2 of this year.

Gas theft case: what is known

The people’s deputy is suspected of stealing gas worth 2.1 billion hryvnia using two thermal power plants located in the Lviv region (Novoyavorovskaya and Novorozdolskaya CHPP). According to the investigation, enterprises bought gas from Naftogaz at a discounted price, allegedly producing heat for the population.

But businesses used this blue fuel to generate electricity and then sold it at market price. Profit from such activities reached 3.5 billion UAH. It is also stated that the deputy wants to legalize part of the funds, namely more than 450 million hryvnia.

To achieve this, funds were transferred to various foreign companies and then returned to Ukraine under the guise of foreign investment for business purposes.

The suspicion in this case was reported to the MP on October 10 this year. The people’s deputy reportedly did not return detectives’ calls and did not respond to subpoenas.

What else does the MP suspect?

In addition to this case, Yaroslav Dubnevich is also suspected of embezzling 93 million hryvnia from PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia. In particular, the suspicion in this case was made known to him in October 2019.

According to the investigation, Ukrzaliznytsia officials, together with the MP, held open tenders for the purchase of participation. In Ukraine, only one enterprise produces these products – PJSC Dnepropetrovsk Switch Plant. Despite this, the order was received by two intermediary companies, one of which was owned by deputy Yaroslav Dubnevich.

It is also stated that due to this scheme, more than 93 million UAH were overpaid for products in the period 2015-2017.

Let us remind you that on October 17, NABU put the people’s deputy Yaroslav Dubnevich on the wanted list. The deputy attended the hearing in the embezzlement case from Ukrzaliznytsia by video link and said that he was in the hospital. However, he did not want to say which health institution. Already on November 2, the Anti-Corruption Center said that on October 8, the MP probably crossed the border between Romania and Hungary and his whereabouts were unknown.