Lviv region police reported suspicion to a former official of Lvivgaz JSC. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, he organized a scheme to artificially inflate tariffs for the distribution of natural gas for utility companies in the region.

Law enforcement officers established that in August 2021, the official overestimated the number of gas distribution pipelines and gas control equipment that had allegedly been in operation for more than 25 years. Thanks to this indicator, the standard gas loss is calculated, which affects the tariff.

As a result, the estimated losses “on paper” increased by more than 2.8 million m? gas per year, which led to an increase in the tariff by 14.8 UAH per 1 thousand. This allowed the company to include in the cost of services almost 3.7 million UAH, which were paid by the regional utility companies: " According to investigators, the suspect could dispose of the funds received at his own discretion..

He was charged under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:.

5 tbsp. 191 (appropriation of someone else’s property through abuse of official position by prior conspiracy of a group of persons on an especially large scale - ed.);

1 tbsp. 366 (introduction of knowingly false data into official documents - ed..

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Earlier, prosecutors of the Chernivtsi Regional, Specialized Environmental and District Prosecutor's Offices announced suspicion of 15 persons - from managers of utility companies and village heads to managers of state enterprises, private companies and contractors. They are suspected of misappropriation of budget funds, abuse of official position and submission of false data in declarations.