Corruption Cases Identified in the Water Supply Sector in Certain Regions of the Republic of Belarus

The regional office of the Financial Investigation Department of the State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus has identified and suppressed instances of corruption in the water supply sector.

It has been established that officials of several Belarusian state-owned enterprises systematically received bribes over a period of two years from representatives of a Minsk-based limited liability company in exchange for lobbying its interests. The illicit payments were made for ensuring the company’s selection as a supplier of imported pumping equipment and components, as well as for the timely settlement of payments for such supplies.

The equipment and components were supplied at inflated prices.

During the transfer of a bribe amounting to 5 thousand euros, a representative of a regional water utility organization was detained in flagrante delicto. Subsequently, officers of the Financial Investigation Department of the State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus established 11 additional episodes of bribery involving the same official.

In addition, further instances of bribe-giving were identified involving six representatives of district-level state enterprises, who received payments from employees of the same Minsk-based company in exchange for lobbying its interests in procurement of pumping equipment and components.

It was revealed that the director of the private company coordinated a list of state enterprises indicating specific bribe amounts for their officials. Based on this list, he cashed part of the profits received and, through his subordinates, transferred funds to officials of state enterprises.

The total amount of bribes and unlawful remuneration exceeded 80 thousand belarusian rubles.

Seven criminal cases have been initiated in relation to the identified facts. A preliminary investigation is ongoing.