In Zhytomyr region, a former tax service chief was receiving a salary by pretending to be a military officer.

The State Bureau of Investigations has uncovered and charged a former tax official from the Zhytomyr region who was receiving a salary without actually working. To collect his pay and maintain his job, the man pretended to be a serviceman, the bureau reported on Thursday, November 14.

According to the investigation, the former head of the tax service in the Zhytomyr region signed a contract with a volunteer formation of the Dnipro city territorial community in June 2022. However, he failed to report for duty and also stopped attending his job at the tax office.

“For two years, the tax official hardly left his home, yet he received 700,000 UAH in salary from the tax office. He has now been dismissed from his position,” the bureau's press service stated.

The ex-official has been charged under Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (the appropriation of someone else's property by deception in large amounts under martial law). He faces up to eight years in prison.

Currently, a decision is being made regarding the selection of a preventive measure for the offender. Law enforcement is also initiating the recovery of damages incurred by the state. It is noted that investigators will provide a legal assessment of the actions of the tax officials where the man worked. According to the State Bureau of Investigations, they did not check once during the two years whether the former head of the tax service was actually serving in the formation.