The deputy chairman of the Odesa Regional Council was arrested for accepting a $50,000 bribe
The Security Service of Ukraine has exposed and detained one of the deputy chairmen of the Odesa Regional Council on suspicion of extorting an illegal benefit.
According to the investigation, the official, along with his accomplices, demanded $50,000 from a local businessman in exchange for assistance in obtaining a permit to build a cottage community.
“According to the case file, in exchange for this money, the official promised the businessman unimpeded processing of permits for the construction of a cottage community near the port city. If the developer refused to pay, he was threatened with artificial delays in the preparation of the documents,” the statement reads.
According to the SBU, to carry out the scheme, the suspect enlisted the secretary of one of the village councils in the Odesa district and the head of an engineering company.
SBU officers documented the suspects’ crimes and detained them after they received the first installment of the bribe, amounting to 10,000 U.S. dollars.
During searches of the detainees’ homes, documents and other physical evidence of the scheme were discovered.
The deputy chairman of the regional council has been notified of the charges against him. The issue of notifying the other participants in the scheme of the charges against them is currently being decided.
This was reported by the SBU.
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