Law enforcement officers apprehended a criminal while he was receiving $35,000 for his «services». He has been charged and a preventive measure has been chosen. The offender faces up to eight years of imprisonment with property confiscation.

The 49-year-old man's criminal activities were halted by investigators from Odesa's police department in collaboration with the Strategic Investigation Department.

«The fraudster promised an Odesa resident, for a monetary reward, to assist him in securing a job in a local military unit, which would be a basis for terminating the trial concerning serious crimes related to military mobilization. It was also guaranteed that the «client» would serve in a formal capacity and would not be sent to combat zones», - said Valentina Istomina, head of the investigative department.

The suspect claimed he would resolve all these issues by influencing officials from a local military recruitment and social support center, military unit, and judicial authorities. For his «services», he demanded $35,000.

Police detained the fraudster at a gas station while receiving the agreed sum and documents.

Investigators seized these, as well as the suspect's mobile phone containing information relevant to the investigation as evidence.

«Based on the collected evidence, the suspect was charged under part 3 of article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This pertains to receiving illegal benefits for influencing a decision made by a person authorized to perform state functions, combined with extortion of illegal benefits. The suspect faces up to eight years of imprisonment with property confiscation for this crime», - added Valentina Istomina.

The court selected a preventive measure for the detained individual in the form of custody with the possibility of posting bail of 242,240 hryvnias. Investigative actions are ongoing under the procedural guidance of the Suvorov District Prosecutor's Office in Odesa. During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement will establish the full circle of individuals who may be involved in the criminal scheme.