In Transcarpathia, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) reported suspicion to an employee of the Yasinyan Forestry, who allowed illegal logging worth 18 million hryvnias.
Also, SBI employees reported suspicion to three employees of Mykhailiv Forestry in Zaporizhzhia region, who carried out illegal felling of trees worth 1.7 million hryvnias, reports SBI.
The report noted that the forest master of the Yasinyan Forestry did not ensure proper protection of the forest and did not inform the management and law enforcement agencies about illegal felling. In the autumn-winter period from 2020-21, unknown persons cut down trees worth more than 18 million hryvnias.
The press service said that the man was informed of suspicion of official negligence (Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He faces imprisonment for up to 5 years. In addition, the SBI is preparing a motion to suspend the forest master from performing his duties and choose a precautionary measure.
"The investigation is ongoing, the full circle of persons involved in illegal logging is being established and they have been notified of suspicion. Also, documents are being prepared regarding compensation for damages," the report says.
In the press service of SBI they also said that the forester of the Mykhailiv Forestry decided to "make extra money" on wood for heating. He involved the forester's assistant and forest master in illegal felling.
"Instead of protecting the entrusted territory, forestry workers cut down trees without any permits and documents and sold them to the population for firewood," the report noted.
The investigation established that the perpetrators cut down 750 trees in 2 months, which caused losses to forestry of 1 million 700 thousand hryvnias.
The men were informed of the suspicion of abuse of official position and illegal felling of trees by an organized group, committed repeatedly (part 4 of article 246, part 2 of article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). They face up to 7 years in prison.
As EcoPolitic reported before, the Transcarpathian Regional Prosecutor's Office sent an indictment to the court regarding compensation of 5.4 million hryvnias of damages of Transcarpathian Forestry and Hunting Administration and Velykobereznyan Forestry for illegal felling of 367 trees.
