In Odesa, law enforcement arrested an official from the RTC and his accomplice on suspicion of accepting a bribe of 15,000 hryvnias. They have been charged and face up to 10 years in prison, along with confiscation of property.
The illegal activities were uncovered and halted by investigators from the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odesa region, in collaboration with operatives from the Internal Security Service of Ukraine.
According to the investigation, a 33-year-old head of a support group from one of the Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support enlisted the help of a 56-year-old local resident to find individuals looking to evade conscription during mobilization. At the end of June, the Odesa resident arranged a meeting for a serviceman with a "client," during which a fictitious summons was offered for 15,000 hryvnias, allowing the individual to move freely within the country for a month and avoid issues during military document checks.
During the next transaction, the official sent his accomplice to receive the money and deliver the summons. The accomplice also informed the "client" that similar summonses could be provided for his acquaintances at a discount.
Police apprehended both individuals after the official, through his accomplice, delivered six additional summons to the same "client" and received payment.
Investigators gathered sufficient evidence to charge the suspects under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It is worth noting that receiving unlawful benefits by a public official for actions performed in favor of the offeror using their official position, committed by a group of individuals in collusion, is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a prohibition on holding certain positions for up to three years, along with property confiscation.
The court has chosen to impose preventive measures in the form of detention with the right to bail: 1 million hryvnias for the serviceman and 500,000 hryvnias for his accomplice. Investigative actions are ongoing under the procedural guidance of the Odesa Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Defense in the Southern Region. Law enforcement is working to identify all individuals involved in the criminal scheme.
