The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have notified members of an organized group led by a former State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine of suspicion. They are suspected of misappropriating funds donated by foreign citizens and donors to support Ukraine at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.
That is according to NABU, Ukrinform reports.
"According to the investigation, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs persuaded international donors and subordinate employees of diplomatic missions abroad to direct financial assistance to the bank account of a controlled non-governmental organization. According to an expert assessment, the funds received by this NGO legally constituted earmarked budget funds from the special fund of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine," the statement said.
According to NABU, the funds were subsequently transferred to accounts belonging to controlled individual entrepreneurs and legal entities, which then funneled the money through money laundering centers to be withdrawn in cash. The proceeds were then used by members of the scheme for personal enrichment.
