An official from the Trade and Customs Chamber was detained in the Odesa region on suspicion of facilitating the reservation of diesel fuel
In the Odesa region, law enforcement officers detained the head of one of the departments of the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TCRS), who is suspected of receiving an illegal benefit in exchange for removing a person subject to military service from the wanted list and facilitating his enlistment.
According to the investigation, the deputy head of a critical-infrastructure enterprise approached the official to inquire about the procedure for paying a fine on behalf of a man who was wanted by the TCS and whom they planned to hire.
According to law enforcement, the military official offered to “resolve the issue” in exchange for vouchers for 500 liters of diesel fuel with a total value of nearly 45,000 hryvnias. If the request was refused, investigators claim, he threatened negative consequences for the conscript related to his mobilization.
A company representative reported the extortion to law enforcement. Afterward, police and SBU officers documented the transfer of the illicit benefit.
The official was detained after a subordinate, acting on his instructions, received the fuel vouchers; according to the investigation, the subordinate was unaware of his superior’s criminal intentions. During searches, law enforcement officers seized the fuel vouchers, cell phones, and a laptop.
The detainee was notified of the suspicion under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—the receipt by a public official of an unlawful benefit, combined with its extortion. The penalty under this article provides for up to 10 years of imprisonment, along with confiscation of property and disqualification from holding certain positions.
The issue of imposing a preventive measure in the form of pretrial detention on the suspect is currently being decided. The pretrial investigation is ongoing under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Defense Sector of the Southern Region.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law and by a court conviction.
This was reported on July 30 by the Odesa Regional Police.
As a reminder, law enforcement officials in the Odesa region uncovered the organizer of an illegal scheme to smuggle conscripts abroad. According to police, 147 men were being smuggled out of the country under the guise of sailors.
The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have uncovered nine new schemes to evade mobilization in various regions of the country. As part of special operations, 23 organizers of these schemes were detained; they had been helping conscripts, for a fee, to avoid conscription or to leave the country illegally.
