Lawyers representing the director of KSMEP presented the purchased traffic lights and rejected allegations of embezzlement.
- News of Mykolaiv
-
•
-
- Alisa Melik-Adamian
-
•
-
14:05, 03 February, 2026
The municipal specialised installation and maintenance company(KSMEP) in Mykolaiv, whose director is suspected of embezzling 1.2 million hryvnias, received all the paid-for traffic lights. They were stored in the supplier's warehouse.
In a comment to NikVesti, the position was voiced by the Zakon law firm, which represents the interests of the company's director, Hryhorii Patoka.
The lawyers assert that the investigation did not take into account or verify the fact that the goods were stored at the supplier's warehouse until the actual transfer of the equipment due to difficult weather conditions and the specific nature of the cargo. In January, 68 traffic and pedestrian traffic lights were transferred to KSMEP.
«These statements are not true. All traffic lights that were purchased and paid for in accordance with the tender procurement are located on the territory of the municipal enterprise,» the lawyers said.
KSEMP received the traffic lights in January 2026. Prior to that, they were stored at the supplier's warehouse. Photo: NikVesti provided by the Zakon law firm
KSEMP received the traffic lights in January 2026. Prior to that, they were stored at the supplier's warehouse. Photo: NikVesti provided by the Zakon law firm
KSMP received the traffic lights in January 2026. Prior to that, they were stored at the supplier's warehouse. Photo: NikVesti provided by the Zakon law firmAccording to the lawyers, this procedure was formalised by relevant agreements in accordance with the requirements of current legislation and the powers of the municipal enterprise.
«Subsequently, given the particular resonance, at the request of the municipal enterprise, the traffic lights were immediately transferred from storage, although according to the technological plan, their installation was scheduled by the enterprise for spring 2026,» the defence stated.
The lawyers also stated that they had prepared a package of supporting documents proving that there were no violations in the actions of the director of the municipal enterprise, Hryhoriy Patoka. The materials are to be submitted to the pre-trial investigation authority.
NikVesti wrote about the delivery of the suspicion to Hryhorii Patoka on 21 January. On 22 January, the Mykolaiv Region Prosecutor's Office officially confirmed the delivery of the suspicion and provided details of the search.
During a press conference on the same day, the management of the Department of Housing and Communal Services announced that it did not plan to remove Hryhorii Patoka, the head of the municipal specialised installation and maintenance enterprise under their control, without a court decision.
It should be noted that on 23 January, the Inhulskyi District Court remanded the Mykolaiv official in custody with the possibility of bail. He was also suspended from office until 20 March.
The suspect did not appear at the court hearing, which was scheduled for 10:00 a.m., because he was undergoing inpatient treatment. At that time, the prosecutor's office asked the court to bring the suspect to the hearing.
On 27 January, Hryhorii Patoka was released from the detention centre on bail of 1.3 million hryvnias.
Чому ви читаєте «МикВісті»? Яка наша діяльність найбільш важлива для вас? Та чи хотіли б ви стати частиною спільноти читачів? Пройдіть опитування, це анонімно і займе 5 хвилин вашого часу