One of the perpetrators involved in the illegal smuggling of men across the border has been apprehended. He was caught during the transfer of an advance payment of $1000 to a serviceman. He has been charged and a preventive measure has been applied. He faces up to eight years in prison with property confiscation.
A 39-year-old resident of Odessa offered a border guard a monetary reward to ensure military conscripts could cross into the Transnistrian region of Moldova without hindrance.
The serviceman reported the individual to his superiors, leading to a special operation organized by the State Border Guard Service in collaboration with the local police to document the crime.
The perpetrator promised the border guard between $1000 and $1500 per fugitive, with the same amount to be paid just before crossing the border. For this fee, the serviceman was to act as a so-called guide, providing information on the location of border patrols to ensure the men could reach the border undetected. Other accomplices were to find, consult, and transport clients to the site of the crossing.
The suspect was detained during a meeting with the border guard when he handed over the first installment of $1000, which was seized by police investigators as evidence.
After gathering sufficient evidence, police charged the suspect with providing unlawful benefits to a public official, involving actions in favor of the benefactor using their official position, in conspiracy with others. Under Part 3 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, this offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to eight years with or without property confiscation.
The court has ordered the suspect to be held in custody with the option of bail set at 181,680 hryvnias, which he did not utilize.
Law enforcement agencies are establishing the complete network of individuals involved in this crime. The investigation is ongoing under the procedural guidance of the Odessa Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the defense sector of the Southern region.
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