5 forestry officials will be tried for cutting down trees worth tens of millions of hryvnias

5 forestry officials will be tried for cutting down trees worth tens of millions of hryvnias shutterstock
Katerina Belousova

Perpetrators face imprisonment for 7 to 10 years

In Vinnytsia, the prosecutor's office informed 5 officials from the management of the forestry and hunting management district and Kryzhopol forestry of suspicion of exceeding their official powers, which caused serious consequences.

They are suspected of illegal felling of trees worth about 87 million hryvnias, the press service reports Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office.

If the court finds them guilty, the officials face imprisonment for a term of 7 to 10 years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of up to three years.

"The pre-trial investigation is carried out by investigators of the fourth investigative department (located in Vinnytsia) of the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation, located in Khmelnytskyi. "Currently, the question of selecting preventive measures for the suspects and removing them from their positions is being resolved," the press service said.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in Lviv region the SSU exposed several officials from the forest farm, who earned on the appropriation and sale of high-grade wood in wartime conditions.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, a fish inspector from Odesa will be tried for systematic bribery, which the man demanded for fishing permits in the waters of the Shabolat estuary during spawning.

Related
Family contracts worth 11 million hryvnia: in Polissya, the forests are looked after by relatives of a forestry official
Family contracts worth 11 million hryvnia: in Polissya, the forests are looked after by relatives of a forestry official

The mother and mother-in-law of the official won procurement tenders from the Kivertsi Forestry, and her husband actually manages the work

Over $1 million in cash: civil servant from environmental inspection agency caught illegally enriching herself
Over $1 million in cash: civil servant from environmental inspection agency caught illegally enriching herself

Undeclared currency equivalent to over UAH 46 million was found at the official's home

NABU and SAP bring case on illegal construction of Nyvky Park to court
NABU and SAP bring case on illegal construction of Nyvky Park to court

Law enforcement officers completed the investigation on March 28, 2024

Top 3 most damaging cases of environmental damage from September 27 to October 3. Digest
Top 3 most damaging cases of environmental damage from September 27 to October 3. Digest

National parks and forestries suffered losses worth millions of hryvnias due to illegal activities of criminals