According to the Prosecutor's Office, Lehtme has been concluding loss-making contracts for NGO Slava Ukraini with a Ukrainian company since August 2022. The Public Prosecutor initiated criminal proceedings related to Lehtme in May 2023. As a result of a two-year international investigation, the Central Criminal Police compiled a large file based on which charges were filed.
According to the charges, Lehtme abused her leadership position and concluded loss-making contracts for NGO Slava Ukraini. She misused the NGO's assets, causing a loss of over 413,000 euros. According to the Prosecutor's Office, Lehtme did this by concluding contracts with the Ukrainian company IC Construction.
The Prosecutor's Office also filed charges of embezzlement. In August 2022, a logistics contract was signed, under which Slava Ukraini paid a Ukrainian company approximately 44,500 euros. This money should have been used to organize the transport of humanitarian aid from Estonia to Ukraine. However, during the investigation, it was discovered that the same service was also paid for by the Ukrainian NGO All For Victory. Additionally, the Ukrainian company did not provide logistics services, but the contract money was used to cover other expenses.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, the contracts signed with the Ukrainian company and the invoices paid caused a loss of over 450,000 euros for NGO Slava Ukraini. The loss would not have occurred if Lehtme had fulfilled her duties diligently.
During the investigation, it was confirmed that although Lehtme concluded loss-making contracts, the aid projects were still carried out. Real humanitarian aid, funded by 6.5 million euros donated by Estonian residents, was provided and reached those in need.