The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has sentenced Leonid Shyman, General Director of the state enterprise «Research and Production Association ‘Pavlohrad Chemical Plant’,» to five years in prison. The official was found guilty of abuse of power that resulted in over UAH 43.3 million in losses to the state. The plant’s commercial director was also handed a real prison sentence alongside him.
A panel of HACC judges found both officials guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 28, Part 2 of Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or official position committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, causing severe consequences).
According to the court’s decision, the defendants received the following sentences:
General Director Leonid Shyman: 5 years of imprisonment, a 3-year ban on holding organizational, managerial, or administrative positions, and a fine of UAH 17,000.
Commercial Director: 4 years and 3 months of imprisonment, a 3-year ban on holding managerial roles, and a fine of UAH 15,000.
«In addition to the criminal sentence, the court fully granted the prosecutor’s civil suit, ordering the convicted officials to pay over UAH 36 million in compensation for damages caused to the state.»
According to investigations conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), the leadership of the strategic enterprise organized a scheme to sell company products through controlled intermediary firms. Products were purchased from the state enterprise at artificially low prices and subsequently resold to end-users at market value. The price difference was funneled into private accounts.
A third party—the director of the intermediary companies—is also implicated in the case. However, materials regarding this accomplice have been separated into a distinct proceeding as he remains on the wanted list.
SE «RPA ‘Pavlohrad Chemical Plant'» is one of Ukraine’s key defense industry enterprises, specializing in the production of explosives, ammunition filling, and the disposal of solid rocket fuel.
Notably, this is not the only case involving Leonid Shyman. Law enforcement authorities have previously investigated other proceedings linked to procurement and financial management at the plant during his tenure.
The HACC verdict has not yet entered into legal force. The defense team has 30 days from the date of the ruling to file an appeal with the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court.