Under the procedural supervision of the Kirovohrad Regional Prosecutor's Office, two officials were notified of suspicion for illegal registration of almost half a thousand hectares of state-owned land into communal ownership, as a result of which the state suffered losses of more than UAH 26 million.

It was established that in December 2020, the then head of the regional department of the State Geocadastre, abusing her official position, contrary to the requirements of the current legislation, issued an order on the basis of which a plot of land with an area of almost 234 hectares, which was in state ownership, was transferred to the communal ownership of one of the village councils. Such actions caused losses to the state in the amount of more than UAH 7.4 million.

The State Geocadastre official was notified of suspicion for abuse of official position, which caused serious consequences, under part 2 of Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The State Registrar of the Center for Providing Administrative Services of the Onufriiv village council also was notified of suspicion. He entered into the State Register of Property Rights to Immovable Property inaccurate information about the right of communal ownership of four plots of land with a total area of more than 230 hectares, which were in state ownership and were located outside the settlements.

According to the investigation, these actions were committed with the aim of obtaining an illegal benefit both for the benefit of the local self-government body and in personal interests.

As a result, losses in the amount of almost UAH 18.8 million were caused to the State.

The State Registrar has been notified of suspicion under part 3 of Art. 362 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized change of information in an automated system with personal gain, which caused serious consequences) and part 3 of Art. 365-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of authority by a person who provides public services, which caused serious consequences).

Pre-trial investigations in criminal proceedings are carried out by investigators of the Svitlovodsk Police Department with operational support from the Department for Strategic Investigations in the Kirovohrad region.

Procedural supervision is provided by the Kirovohrad Regional and Oleksandriysk District Prosecutors' Offices.

Note: pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until his guilt is proven and established in accordance with the law.