$ 6 million undeclared wealth unravels careers of mother-son top officials in Ukraine’s fight against corruption

The State Bureau of Investigation exposed a son, the head of the Pension Fund Office in Khmelnytskyi Oblast and a mother, the head of Khmelnytskyi's Medical and Social Expertise Center, involved in a scheme of creating fraudulent disability certifications for military service evasion and illegally earning $6 million.

Oct 12, 2024 - 12:00

$ 6 million undeclared wealth unravels careers of mother-son top officials in Ukraine’s fight against corruption

One of the accused caught for corruption.

The head of the Pension Fund Office in Khmelnytskyi Oblast Oleksandr Krupa has resigned from his position following a high-profile corruption scandal involving his family, according to Suspilne’s sources close to the matter.

On 5 October, the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) of Ukraine detained the head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Center for Medical and Social Expertise (MSEC) for illegal $6 million enrichment and a scheme involving fraudulent disability certifications for military service evasion.

This case highlights Ukraine’s intensified efforts to battle corruption to foster economic growth, fulfill requirements for EU integration, and align with Western standards in general.

Oleksandr Krupa submitted his resignation on 10 October, Suspilne reports. As the investigation continues, Maria Kviatkivska has been appointed as acting head of the Pension Fund Office in Khmelnytskyi Oblast.

A suspect in corruption case, Oleksandr Krupa. Source: his Facebook profile

His financial declarations reveal substantial assets, including 3 apartments, 4 cars, 25 land plots, 5 residential houses and two unfinished ones, 4 garden (dacha) houses. However, Oleksandr’s 2023 income as head of the Pension Fund was declared at 657,126 hryvnias ($15,978).

His mother Tetiana Krupa is currently in custody facing a bail set at over 500 million hryvnias ($12 million).

During the search of the Krupa’s family properties, investigators reportedly found $100,000 in cash, forged medical documents, and lists of “draft dodgers” with fictitious diagnoses, along with assets like luxury cars, 30 real estate properties, and foreign accounts

Tetiana even tried disposing of $500,000 by throwing it out a window.

The undeclared wealth, if proven, could lead to a 10-year prison sentence and property confiscation.

The case has political ramifications as well. Tetiana Krupa, elected to the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council as a member of the “Servant of the People” party, now faces potential recall. The party has initiated proceedings to remove her from office, citing a failure to meet voter expectations.

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