Ex-Ukrainian minister arrested in uniform corruption goes to trial in Turkish court

A complex corruption scandal involving military camouflage uniforms in Ukraine has led to a Turkish investigation, with key figures arrested and millions of dollars in fraud uncovered.

Philippe Haim Solomon, the alleged mastermind of the scheme, is facing a prison sentence of up to 12.5 years for fraud.

Background of the scheme

The scandal dates back to 2022, during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As the Ukrainian military scrambled to secure winter camouflage uniforms for its troops, former Ukrainian Deputy Minister Roman Balykin and ex-member of parliament Igor Franchuk became involved in a scheme to source the uniforms according to the reports.

According to the National Police of Ukraine, the participants in the criminal schemes used the proceeds to purchase luxury cars and real estate, including abroad.

The Ukrainian government contracted with the US-based Sinclair and Wilde company, a front for fraudulent activities led by Philippe Haim Solomon, a notorious scammer with a history of criminal convictions. Solomon, who used various aliases, had previously faced legal action in the U.S. and France for similar offenses.

The scheme was organized by a foreigner, an international fraudster who has been repeatedly prosecuted in France, Spain, Türkiye and Indonesia.

To fulfill the order, he selected a textile holding in Türkiye and promised its executives to assist in obtaining a large defense order through his connections with influential Ukrainian officials and politicians.

The Turkish side reported that the price of manufacturing more than a million sets of military uniforms would cost $25,600,000 and issued a power of attorney to the fraudster to represent its interests.

The intermediary entered into five overpriced deals with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine worth more than $35 million on behalf of a company he controlled, and only then signed contracts worth $25,600,000 with a Turkish clothing holding company.

More than $10 million of the difference was supposed to go into the pockets of an intermediary, an adviser to the former Deputy Minister of Defense and a former MP who lobbied for the contracts.

National Police of Ukraine

Fraudulent contracts and financial irregularities

Sinclair and Wilde signed a contract with the Turkish textile company Impeks Group for the delivery of one million uniforms. The total deal was worth $26.5 million, with $22 million initially paid by Ukraine, including a $10 million advance to the Turkish company.

While Impeks Group delivered the promised uniforms, they were never fully compensated. The Turkish company faced a significant shortfall of $16.5 million, prompting them to file a complaint with the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation led to charges of qualified fraud against Philippe Haim Solomon, with the Istanbul 15th High Criminal Court setting a trial for his alleged crimes.

Solomon’s attempt to escape prosecution

Solomon, who had been previously convicted for similar offenses in multiple countries, attempted to escape his legal troubles by running for parliament in France, but he was not elected.

In addition to facing fraud charges in Ukraine, Solomon was under investigation in multiple jurisdictions, including France, Spain, Türkiye, and Indonesia.

The Ukrainian investigation revealed that Solomon had not only defrauded the state of millions but had also failed to pay substantial bribes that had been promised to officials involved in the deal.

On November 27, Ukrainian authorities conducted raids on 38 locations, arresting key figures, including Balykin and Franchuk, as well as seizing their assets, including luxury vehicles.

Legal consequences for all involved

As the investigation progresses, multiple individuals involved in the fraudulent uniform deal, including former Deputy Defense Minister Balykin and other high-ranking officials, face arrest warrants.