KYIV.UkraineGate , 10 , June , 2022 | Society.
The State Customs Service has launched an investigation into the information published in the media that branded clothing was transferred from the local customs for the needs of the Odessa Territorial Defense. And the customs officers themselves shift the blame to the defense. This follows from the decision of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy following a meeting at which representatives of the State Customs Service were heard .
Oleksandr Shchutskyi, First Deputy Head of the State Customs Service, said that an official investigation had been launched into the facts on April 11. However, the committee’s decision does not contain information on the results of this inspection.
It is a question of transfer by the Odessa customs of branded things for needs of ZSU on the basis of invoices signed by acting head of the Odessa customs Vitaliy Zakolodyazhny, in particular, such as T-shirts of brands “Givenchy”, “Gucci”, “Polo”, “Dolce & Gabbana”, etc., glamorous backpacks made of polymer material TM “MichaelKors”, sports shoes for football, belts trademarks “Dolce & Gabbana”, “Chanel”, “LouisVuitton”, “Armani”, etc.
These items were transferred as part of the seizure of confiscated property stored in customs warehouses and can be used for state defense purposes.
“(…) Members of the committee received reasonable comments on the possibility of using women’s backpacks, football shoes, eau de toilette and perfume, children’s suits, coats” to implement measures to ensure national security and defense.
During the meeting, the Verkhovna Rada committee was interviewed and the acting head of the Odessa customs Zakolodyazhny, whose signature is on the invoices for the issuance of goods from the warehouse. He stated that the order establishing the procedure for issuance does not specify a specific list of property and its quantity to be removed from the customs, such determination is made independently by the recipients of such property. He noted that customs officers do not have the authority to determine whether this or that is really necessary for the national security and defense of Ukraine.
He also said that when he received a letter in which 90% of the goods were women’s, he reported it to the Odessa regional military administration. The process of transferring property was stopped, and the already transferred property was returned. Customs officials also said that the items were not original, but only counterfeits of well-known brands.
“At the same time, the committee believes that the explanations of the State Customs Service do not refute the facts of possible violations of the law by customs officials, because the customs authorities are responsible for storing and disposing of such property in the manner prescribed by law,” the committee said. and it is added that it is the customs officers who are responsible for compiling the list of property to be transferred.
Source: Ukrgate
