Corruption Uncovered in Odesa Region: Law Enforcement Officers Demand Bribes
Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation, with the help of the Security Service of Ukraine, uncovered two law enforcement officers from the Odesa region who were systematically demanding bribes from small business owners. Under the threat of mobilizing their employees, entrepreneurs were forced to regularly pay a specified amount. This was reported by the SBI.
Since November 2024, the suspects have been demanding money monthly, threatening to notify military enlistment offices about employees who are not registered for military service, as well as threatening fines and summons.
The monthly amount of «tribute» was on average 9 thousand hryvnias from each entrepreneur and was determined individually. In total, over the month, the law enforcement officers received about 220 thousand hryvnias from nearly 30 entrepreneurs, which they divided among themselves.
"On March 27, 2025, one of them was detained while receiving another bribe from several entrepreneurs totaling 42 thousand hryvnias. Both suspects have been charged under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (receiving unlawful benefits by an official)" - the statement reads.
The penalty for this article provides for up to 10 years of imprisonment. The court has chosen preventive measures in the form of detention with an alternative bail of 1 million hryvnias each. A request for their dismissal from office is being prepared. The procedural guidance is carried out by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.
