The foreign banks and companies are involved in causing more than the third of all losses from the crimes, investigated by the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine, Finance.UA reports.
Currently, NABU detectives identified commercial structures, at least, of 10 countries of the world, which participated in withdrawing more than UAH 2.27 bln, USD 428 mln, EUR 4.3 mln and GBP 825 ths from Ukraine.
The investigation established the involvement of foreign companies in corruption schemes, realized on some Ukrainian state companies. In particular, it refers to Ukrgasdobycha PJSC, Electrotyazhmash PE, United Mining and Chemical Company PE, State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine PJSC, Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine PE, Odessa Portside Plant OJSC and others, the bureau’s press office reports.
The citizens of Ukraine are most often the final beneficiaries of foreign companies, involved in corruption schemes. And the companies usually act as the mediator, which, with the assistance of top management of the state enterprise, purchases its products at prices, lower than market or vice versa – supplies equipment or raw materials for PE needs at too high prices.
Meanwhile, the criminally obtained revenues are withdrawn abroad and used for creation of new corruption schemes in Ukraine as well as for financing private needs of their organizers (real estate, tuition fee, medical treatment etc).
According to the data, obtained by NABU detectives from the beginning of carrying out investigations (from October 4, 2015), such mediator companies most often have “registration” in Great Britain and the Republic of Cyprus. The low taxes, the simplified financial reporting and high assurance of confidentiality attract Ukrainian corrupt officials in these countries.
The banking operations are most often conducted through financial institutions in Latvia and Austria, because the local banks work quickly and have strict standards for maintenance of the bank secrecy.
NABU actively cooperate with law enforcement authorities of other countries. The geography of NABU inquiries covers almost all continents. As of mid-April, from the beginning of investigations, the NABU sent the total of 161 requests for the international legal assistance to competent bodies of 41 countries. Most requests were sent in Latvia (35), Great Britain (13), Austria (10), Switzerland (10), Cyprus (10).
