Smuggling of timber and money laundering – businessman to be tried
Prosecutors of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office have sent to court an indictment against a 54-year-old resident of Sambir district. He is charged with timber smuggling and money laundering (Part 3 of Article 201-1, Part 1 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The investigation established that the accused, being an individual entrepreneur, entered into a contract with a foreign company for the supply of decorative products and hazel brushwood.
The man bought the timber from local residents without any shipping documents and documents on its origin. He stored the goods in the warehouse where he conducted his business.
He used false consignment notes to obtain a certificate of the allegedly legal origin of the timber and export the goods abroad. In particular, he used false consignment notes for the alleged purchase of these goods from a forestry enterprise.
After accumulating a sufficient amount of timber for export, they were placed in two trucks. It is documented that one of them with timber products was transported across the border, while the other was detained by law enforcement officers.
In addition, in the course of the above-mentioned illegal activity, the accused received over UAH 260 thousand from a foreign company. The man legalised this money by converting non-cash into cash, which he used to purchase timber.
During the pre-trial investigation, a truck, timber and woodworking equipment were seized and arrested.
The pre-trial investigation was carried out by detectives of the BES in Lviv region with the operational support of the SBU Office in Lviv region.
Note: In accordance with Art. 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt is proved by law and established by a court verdict of guilty.
Information Policy Department
of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office
