The new authorities accuse the owner of Forbes-Ukraine of high-profile fraud

Kyiv, May 19 (Navigator, Mikhail Ryabov) – The Security Service of Ukraine today published a number of charges against Kharkov billionaire Sergei Kurchenko, who is considered close to the Family of Viktor Yanukovych, is wanted and is hiding abroad.

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“During the pre-trial investigation, it was established that Sergei Kurchenko created and directly led a criminal organization, the activities of which caused damage to the state in the oil, gas and banking sectors for a total amount of about 4 billion UAH.

An operational investigative group created from among employees of the SBU and the GPU investigates the following episodes:

1. Sale of equipment by companies affiliated with Sergei Kurchenko to state-owned enterprises OJSC Ukrtransgaz and OJSC GAO Chernomorneftegaz at an inflated cost, which caused damage to the state of more than UAH 173 million;

2. Conducting special auctions for the sale of liquefied gas for the needs of the population and its sale through commercial structures controlled by Sergei Kurchenko, which caused damage to OJSC Ukrgasvydobuvannya in the amount of over UAH 100 million;

3. Causing damage in the amount of over UAH 450 million to OJSC NAC Naftogaz of Ukraine by concluding fictitious transactions with LLC Gas Ukraine 2020 for the supply of petroleum products;

4. Unauthorized (unlimited) consumption of natural gas by Ukrainian Oil and Gas Company LLC, which caused damage to OJSC NAC Naftogaz of Ukraine in the amount of over UAH 400 million;

5. Bringing Brokbusinessbank PJSC to bankruptcy through credit fraud and theft of a refinancing loan provided by the National Bank of Ukraine for a total amount of over UAH 2 billion;

6. Theft of a refinancing loan in the amount of UAH 800 million provided by the National Bank of Ukraine to OJSC Real Bank by withdrawing funds through the mechanism of lending to fictitious legal entities.

In addition, the Security Service of Ukraine exposed the facts of Sergei Kurchenko’s direct involvement in the implementation of criminal mechanisms for the acquisition in favor of the financial and industrial group “VETEK” of the media resource “UMH group” (Ukrainian Media Holding LLC), the football club “Metalist”, OJSC “Odessa Oil Refinery” ” and the network of gas stations “SparschweinGmbH&Co” in Germany (170 objects).

During the investigation of criminal proceedings, in order to ensure compensation for losses caused to the state, investigators seized Kurchenko’s personal accounts, his movable and immovable property for a total amount of more than 1,5 billion UAH.

In particular, 16 real estate objects, 3 of them abroad, 7 aircraft, 38 cars, including VIP class: 15 Mercedes-Benz, 2 BMW, 2 Porsche, 1 Bentley Continental, 3 Lexus, 2 Toyota Camry, 1 Aston Martin.

In order to return to the state budget funds and assets obtained illegally, within the framework of a specially created working group, together with international prosecutors, measures are being taken to seize accounts in European banks opened for commercial structures controlled by him, and real estate abroad owned by Kurchenko.

In addition, to protect the property interests of the state, the property of the combined heat and power plant (CHP), which is part of the integral property complex of the Odessa Oil Refinery (ORP), is being seized.

Kurchenko has been put on the international wanted list. Law enforcement agencies are taking measures to detain him,” the SBU said in a statement.