A lawmaker from the Khmelnytskyi region concealed assets worth nearly 14 million hryvnias
Serhiy Demu, a member of the Yampil Town Council, may face criminal charges due to inaccurate information in his financial disclosure statements. The National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) stated that in his 2022 and 2023 documents, he failed to declare apartments, houses, land, vehicles, funds in bank accounts, and a portion of his family’s income totaling nearly 14 million hryvnias. The findings of the audit have already been forwarded to law enforcement authorities.
Experts from the National Agency for Corruption Prevention uncovered the violations during a comprehensive audit of the deputy’s declarations for 2022 and 2023. The individual in question is Serhiy Dema, a deputy of the Yampil Town Council in the Shepetivka District. He was elected to the council from the “Servant of the People” party in the 2020 local elections. In addition to his work as a council member, Dem serves as the director of a company in Yampil that provides truck transportation services.
According to the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK), the council member’s financial disclosure statements revealed undeclared assets and income totaling more than 13.9 million hryvnias. Among other things, he failed to list a 42.9-square-meter apartment in the Odesa region. Its value is nearly 750,000 hryvnias, and it is owned by the deputy’s wife. Also missing from the declaration was a residential house in Yampil with an area of 178.2 square meters. The house belongs to Dema’s wife and, according to the NACP’s assessment, is worth over 867,000 UAH.
Another apartment discovered during the audit is located in Yampil. It has an area of 101.35 square meters and is valued at over 863,000 UAH. The apartment is owned by a relative of the lawmaker, but Dem himself lived there.
No vehicles were listed in the declaration either
The NACP also drew attention to vehicles that were not properly reported in the declarations. Among the undeclared assets listed are an Audi Q7, a DAF XF 105.460, a Volvo FH 460, a Nissan Juke, and semi-trailers. Some of the vehicles belong to the lawmaker himself, while others belong to his wife.
Given that Dem is associated with a company engaged in freight transportation, the list of trucks and semi-trailers is particularly noteworthy. In addition to real estate and vehicles, the NACP identified three land plots belonging to the MP and his wife. Their total value is estimated at more than 1.2 million UAH.
Separately, the agency audited the funds in their bank accounts. In 2022, the amount was 307,000 UAH, and in 2023, it had already risen to 524,000 UAH. Furthermore, the MP’s wife’s income was not properly reported in the declarations. In 2022, this amounted to nearly 130,000 UAH, and in 2023—approximately 135,000 UAH. The NACP also identified other sources of family income, including money received from the sale of vehicles.
The lawmaker underreported income from his business
A separate issue arose during the audit regarding the lawmaker’s own business income. The NACP determined that the amounts Dem actually received from his business activities did not match the figures he reported in his financial disclosures.
In his 2022 declaration, income from business activities was underreported by more than 2.2 million UAH. In his 2023 declaration, the discrepancy amounted to over 1.2 million UAH. In other words, the NACP’s allegations concern more than just individual apartments or cars. During the audit, the agency uncovered a whole series of discrepancies regarding the assets, funds, and income of the lawmaker and his family.
The case was referred to law enforcement authorities
Based on the results of the audit, the NACP forwarded the case materials to law enforcement agencies. Now it is up to them to decide whether to bring criminal charges against the lawmaker. Dema is accused of intentionally providing false information in his declaration under Part 2 of Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
At the same time, the mere fact that the materials were forwarded to law enforcement does not mean that the lawmaker has been found guilty. The final decision in the criminal proceedings must be made by a court. The NACP regularly audits officials’ declarations to identify hidden assets, income, and other discrepancies. In this case, the agency reported discrepancies totaling nearly 14 million hryvnias. This was reported by the National Agency for Corruption Prevention.
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