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

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

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
Head of the KCSA Department “got burned” on bribes for emission permits
Head of the KCSA Department “got burned” on bribes for emission permits

He worked together with three accomplices

Director of Berehove forestry earns hundreds of thousands on illegal timber trade – media
Director of Berehove forestry earns hundreds of thousands on illegal timber trade – media

Journalists claim that the suspect has two criminal cases

Ukrainian foresters have learned to circumvent the new state system of logging control – media
Ukrainian foresters have learned to circumvent the new state system of logging control – media

The State Forestry Agency does not see this as a problem

Three schemes of illegal logging in Ukraine: experts reveal details
Three schemes of illegal logging in Ukraine: experts reveal details

They emphasized that changes in legislation and institutional approaches are currently needed to bring order to this area