Investigation into Organized Crime in Odessa: Key Updates
Prosecutors from the Odessa regional prosecution office have submitted an indictment to the court against a lawyer and two members of an organized crime group, who, under the leadership of an Odessa city council member, illegally acquired real estate in downtown Odessa worth over 11 million hryvnias.
They are charged with fraudulent acquisition of municipal property, its legalization, document forgery, illegal land occupation, and unauthorized construction (Part 3 of Article 28, Parts 3 and 4 of Article 358, Part 4 of Article 190, Part 3 of Article 197-1, and Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The investigation revealed that the council member, who was part of the Odessa city council's permanent commission on municipal property, devised a scheme for illegal enrichment through the registration of ownership rights to real estate that belonged directly or indirectly to local communities.
He enlisted the help of a known lawyer and trusted associates in his plan.
The accomplices sought municipal premises on the first and second floors in central Odessa, rented them through controlled NGOs and enterprises, and later bought them on a non-competitive basis.
They then expanded the area of the previously purchased premises by incorporating attics and basements and registered ownership rights based on forged documentation for front persons.
Some of the illegally obtained non-residential premises were converted into residential apartments and sold to unsuspecting buyers.
In this way, members of the organized group seized three real estate properties in downtown Odessa and a land plot in the Peresyp district, causing over 11 million hryvnias in damages to the local community.
The accused were exposed in May of this year, and preventive measures in the form of detention with an alternative for bail were imposed.
As part of the criminal proceedings, the prosecution filed a civil lawsuit to recover damages.
Materials regarding the organizing council member were separated into a separate proceeding and an international search was announced.
The preliminary investigation was conducted by investigators from the Main Investigation Department of the National Police in Odessa region, with operational support from the Security Service of Ukraine in Odessa region.
Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.
