A Ukrainian property appraiser has been returned from Germany to face charges related to a major land sale fraud, authorities announced. The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, is accused of collaborating with local officials to significantly undervalue public land, leading to an estimated loss of nearly $2 million to the community.
The case, prosecuted by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), involves seven defendants, including a city mayor and a district council head in the Zakarpattia region. Investigators allege that in June 2024, the appraiser produced a falsified valuation report for a plot of communal land exceeding three hectares. This artificially low appraisal allegedly allowed the officials to sell the public property at a price far below its true market value.
The financial damage to the local budget is estimated at approximately 81.7 million hryvnias.
Following an extradition request from Ukraine, German authorities detained the suspect earlier this year. The formal handover occurred at a border crossing in the Lviv region, where NABU officials took custody. Ukrainian law requires that the individual be brought before a court within 48 hours for a hearing on pre-trial detention.
Prosecutors describe the investigation as part of ongoing efforts to combat abuse of power by local authorities. They also highlight the operation as an example of increasing international collaboration in tackling corruption that crosses borders. The defendants face serious charges, including abuse of office, which carry the potential for substantial prison sentences upon conviction.
