The SBI reported suspicion to law enforcer who organized illegal payments for crossing the contact line in Zaporizhia region

29/09/2022

The State Bureau of Investigation continues to effectively counteract corruption schemes of officials. Particular attention is paid to corruption schemes in the adjacent areas or temporarily occupied territories because during the war such schemes have no justification and very often pose a direct threat to the national security of the state. 

The SBI employees served a notice of suspicion to a law enforcement officer, who organized a system of bribes in Zaporizhia for avoiding queues when entering the temporarily occupied territory.

It was established that the law officer, with the help of three civilian intermediaries, took money from carriers and citizens for crossing the contact line with the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhia region.

The "fee" of the criminals was about USD 1.5 thousand per truck and USD 500 per car. For this money, the law enforcer "solved the issues", such as quick inclusion in the list for departure, a formal inspection of cargo and avoidance of long queues.

The SBI together with the Security Service of Ukraine documented a number of episodes of bribery in the total amount of UAH 157 thousand.

During the authorized searches, it was seized about USD 23 thousand, UAH 370 thousand, computer equipment and draft records with relevant information.

The law enforcement officer was served a notice of suspicion of obtaining illegal benefit, and the civilian intermediators were notified of aiding and abetting in obtaining illegal benefit by an official (Part 3 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to ten years.

The procedural guidance is provided by the Zaporizhia Region Prosecutor's Office.

It should be reminded that in another criminal proceeding, the SBI has already stopped a similar corruption scheme of officials at the contact line in Zaporizhia region. 

Back then, some "businessmen" of the Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration and the city council organized a criminal scheme to receive illegal profits for "fast" and positive consideration of citizens' applications for crossing the contact line.