Bulgaria extradites to Ukraine suspect in embezzlement of $2.3 million in Ukrzaliznytsia tenders
Bulgaria has extradited the head of a company involved in a fraudulent tender scheme with rail transport company Ukrzaliznytsia, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
The suspects were part of a criminal group that allegedly embezzled 94.8 million hryvnias ($2.3 million) from Ukrzaliznytsia during the procurement of power transformers between 2022 and 2024.
The company's head was part of a criminal group of ten individuals who were involved in the embezzlement scheme.
The suspect had been on the international wanted list since April 2024 and was later apprehended in Bulgaria in the fall of 2024. Bulgaria subsequently approved Ukraine's extradition request.
The handover of the suspect to NABU officials took place at the international automobile checkpoint "Ustyluh – Zosin" in Volyn Oblast.
At the request of detectives and prosecutors, the court seized 54 million hryvnias ($1.3 million) from the bank accounts of the supplier company, as well as real estate and movable property belonging to the suspects.
The suspect has been placed under house arrest with a bail set at 9.9 million hryvnias ($235,396). The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings is ongoing.
- In April 2024, law enforcement officials uncovered an organized group led by a former advisor to the President's Office, which embezzled 94.8 million hryvnias ($2.3 million) during the procurement of transformers for Ukrzaliznytsia.
