What Is Wrong with BT TV Channel Investigation on the ‘Sugar Mafia’
- 6.02.2020, 11:47
The versions of Lukashenka and the KGB diverged.
BT propagandists say that all the directors of large sugar mills in Belarus, as well as several other companies, were accused of corruption by selling sugar packaging. Radio Svaboda investigated what companies were involved and what corruption schemes had been used.
This is what BT TV channel says:
A small Russian businessman gave bribes to all four directors of sugar mills.
The directors opened Eurotarex company in Belarus to make sugar packaging.
The firm bought expensive raw materials from the Russian Polymer.
The two firms hid their income and did not share it.
The criminal scheme was supervised by Uladzimir Tsikhinya, the former head of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (MDCOCC).
Sugar heads had revenues of millions of dollars, and they went to the office of the Russian company Polymer to get them.
The firm allegedly created specifically for the "sugar affair" has been operating for 20 years.
The plot of BT TV channel tells about Eurotarex, allegedly created in Belarus specifically for the criminal scheme. Investigator Kanstantyn Bychak told about it on the air. According to the state register, this firm was established 20 years ago. Its head is Dzmitry Semashka. Radio Liberty Svaboda caught him at work in Haradzeya, where the company is registered.
"Our organization operates as usual. I think the investigation will provide more comments," said Dzmitry Semashka.
The information on the website of the organization says that it is engaged in the production of polypropylene bags, has two technological lines, capacity can produce up to 22 million units per year.
The partners of the organization have all the sugar factories and three dozen more different state and non-state Belarusian enterprises.
Besides the Russian Polymer mentioned in the plot of BT TV channel, raw materials are supplied to the company by 5 other organizations, including the Belarusian Belkhim - one of the oldest enterprises in the country.
Eurotarex is not a state enterprise, it has joint ownership with the share of foreign capital.
The organization was subject to several trials to recover money from state-owned enterprises, which failed to pay for the products. For example, Hlubokaye Feed Mills owed the enterprise 24 thousand rubles.
Eurotarex was regularly inspected, including by the Ministry of Taxes and Duties and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. No violations were announced.
The Russian Polymer that bought raw materials at an overvalued price, is registered in the state register of Russia. The founder is Sergey Kononenko. According to BT TV channel, he is detained.
This company deals with selling industrial chemicals, advertising, housing, photography and translation.
The company is registered in the centre of Moscow.
Its revenue for 2018 is $1.6 million. But its net profit is 92 thousand dollars or 5.8 million Russian rubles.
The versions of Lukashenka and the KGB diverged
BT TV channel showed that the whole scheme regards sugar packaging and raw materials for it. At that, Lukashenka voices quite different schemes.
"This case is unprecedented for Belarus," said Lukashenka. - These businessmen have created a "separator", a trading house in Moscow. They assigned people they know. Belarusian sugar was sold at reduced prices to the trading house in Moscow. Then, sugar was resold at higher prices at the market. The difference was given in the form of bribes to the directors of the mills," said
Lukashenka before the plot was released.
It's about sugar, not packaging. According to Lukashenka, the scheme, for which the sugar directors were detained, was as follows: Belarusian sugar was sold at reduced prices in Russia, and the company in Moscow resold it at higher prices and the surplus was sold in Belarus also at high prices.
Experts, close to the food industry, told Radio Svaboda that Russian sugar could be brought to Belarus, as it's cheaper. It could cover losses of sugar companies. Three of the four enterprises are loss-making. Russia increased sugar production, sugar prices declined. Belarus has no places to sell it because all exports have recently been focused on the eastern neighbour.
What is known about the "sugar case"
The KGB initiated criminal cases under Part 3, Article 430 "Grand Bribery" against those responsible and under Part 2, Article 431 "giving a grand bribe" against businessmen. The sanctions provide for the punishment of up to 15 years.
The investigation is in progress. The investigator Kanstantyn Bychak claims that the defendants make confessions and cooperate with the investigation.
People in custody:
Director of the Haradzeya sugar mill Mikhail Krishtapovich,
Director of Slutsk sugar mill Mikalai Prudnik,
Viktar Mironau, director of Zhabinka sugar mill,
Dzmitry Ehorau, director of the Skidel sugar mill,
Uladzimir Tsikhinya, former head of the MDCOCC
Dzmitry Kirylau, director of the Belarusian Sugar Company,
Sergey Kononenko, founder of the Russian Polymer company