Black Sea drilling platforms: Ukrainian oligarch Oleksandr Katsuba accused of large-scale embezzlement

27 December 2024 , 19:14

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Black Sea drilling platforms: Ukrainian oligarch Oleksandr Katsuba accused of large-scale embezzlement

"Boyko’s Rigs" or "Katsuba’s Rigs"? The former Deputy Chairman of the Board of NJSC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" and a member of the Supervisory Board of SE "Chornomornaftogaz", ex-regional Oleksandr Katsuba (who uses the Russian version of the name – Aleksandr in documents) may be involved in at least five criminal cases related to the actions of the Yanukovych criminal organization during the procurement of two floating drilling rigs in the years 2010-2013.

This is stated in the response of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to a journalistic inquiry from StopKor. Specifically, the editorial staff asked about the high-profile criminal case concerning the purchase of jack-up drilling platforms for the state gas company "Chornomornaftogaz" at inflated prices (the so-called "Boyko’s Rigs"), and Oleksandr Katsuba’s status in it.

As reported by Nataliya Tyelichko, the head of the department for public information requests, in the case No. 42016000000002959 dated October 20, 2016, which recorded Oleksandr Katsuba’s involvement as a suspect in criminal liability, a plea agreement was concluded, and the punishment was determined and agreed upon by the parties. The specific punishment is not indicated in the response.

According to available information from open sources, on June 17, 2016, the Prosecutor General’s Office detained the former member of the Supervisory Board of SE "Chornomornaftogaz" Oleksandr Katsuba. Katsuba was detained under articles 255 (creation of a criminal organization) and 191 (misappropriation of property through abuse of office). On June 18, the Holosiivsky District Court of Kyiv arrested Katsuba, setting a bail of 450 million UAH. The defendant was held in custody.

And already on March 10, 2017, the Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv decided to release the accused, approving the plea agreement. According to media reports, by that time the figure in the case had compensated the state with about 100 million UAH, which was equivalent to $3.5 million or 0.35% of the total amount of damages at the then exchange rate.

As noted in the response from the Prosecutor General’s Office, in 2017-2018, there were five more open cases where Katsuba was involved (qualification - embezzlement, misuse, or misappropriation of property through criminal means).

In these criminal proceedings, circumstances related to the involvement in the Yanukovych criminal organization and its crimes are being investigated - deliberate embezzlement through abuse of office by an official, falsification and issuance of knowingly false official documents, legalization (laundering) of proceeds obtained through criminal means during the organization and execution of public procurements of two jack-up floating drilling rigs (SPBU) VZ12 and VZ19 during 2010-2013.

Recall that Oleksandr (Aleksandr) Katsuba was also listed by NAPC in the registry of persons who committed corruption offenses.

James Smith