Case description
The HACC acquitted Oleksandr Barchan, the former head of the Berdiansk port, who was accused of abuse during the purchase of a crane for almost UAH 2.5 million. The ex-head of the company that supplied the equipment was exempted from punishment because the statute of limitations had expired.
In 2018–2019, Oleksandr Barchan headed the Berdiansk branch of the State Enterprise Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority. Then the port of Berdiansk held a tender for the purchase of a crane. The winner was Kharkiv-based Elektropivdenmontazh, headed by Nataliia Panchenko, the other defendant in the case. It was alleged that the proposal did not meet all the requirements of the tender, but despite this, the company received almost UAH 2.5 million.
The defendants drew up official documents on the receipt of the said crane, which was never delivered to the port of Berdiansk. As a result of the scheme, the state suffered losses of almost UAH 2.5 million. However, after the proceedings were initiated, the procurement contract was terminated and the money paid was returned.
Barchan's actions were classified under Article 28, part 2; Article 364, part 2; Article 366, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and Panchenko's actions under Article 27, part 5; Article 28, part 2; Article 364, part 2; Article 366, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The HACC acquitted Barchan of all charges, and Panchenko only under Article 27, part 5; Article 28, part 2; Article 364, part 2 of the Criminal Code, and sentenced her to a year in prison, but she was released after the term expired.
Two more suspects in the case concluded a plea agreement with the investigation, namely Vitalii Burian, former deputy head of the Berdiansk port, and Oleksandr Dzhembri, port engineer. The proceedings against Burian were later closed due to a violation of the pre-trial investigation deadlines.
