Former vice president of Energoatom and former deputy minister of energy of Ukraine Yuriy Sheiko has been detained in Kyiv, RBC Ukraine reports.

The former Ukrainian official is suspected of embezzling 18.6 million hryvnias. The misappropriation occurred during the mandatory insurance of civil liability for nuclear damage.

According to the publication, on August 1, 2022, Sheiko signed a contract with the insurance company “Prosto-Strakhovanie” for 105.6 million hryvnias (2.4 million USD). However, by August 12, this amount had increased to 130.9 million hryvnias (3.08 million USD). The former deputy minister explained the increase by citing a requirement from a German intermediary company.

An audit and expert review determined that the amount had been artificially inflated.

Yuriy Sheiko is expected to be charged under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which concerns the misappropriation of state property in especially large amounts, committed by a group of individuals through prior collusion.

Several weeks ago, following a corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that audits would be conducted in all state-owned companies.