Anti-corruption agencies have reported that they have completed an investigation into a Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) officer and two other individuals in a case of extortion of US$300,000.
Source: National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU); Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO); Ukrainska Pravda
Details: A SAPO prosecutor has decided to complete the pre-trial investigation in the case against the head of the sector of the SSU Department for the Protection of National Statehood and two other individuals caught red-handed extorting US$300,000 in illegal benefits.
The investigators established that the unit headed by the suspect was carrying out procedural actions ordered by the investigator of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine in criminal proceedings on the organisation of an illegal border crossing channel to transport persons evading conscription into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
With the participation of two intermediaries (one of whom was a former SSU officer), the department chief demanded US$300,000 from the defendant in the case for destroying part of the case file and disclosing the already established circumstances. In case of refusal, he threatened to take measures to prosecute the person under more severe articles, the anti-corruption officials report.
The investigation documented that the person received part of the agreed funds – US$72,000.
The actions of the head of the department are qualified under Art. 368.4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (taking a bribe) and his accomplices – under Art. 27.5 (type of accomplices) and Art. 368.4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
It is stated that on behalf of the SAPO prosecutor, NABU detectives have opened the case file to the defence for review.
Ukrainska Pravda reported that this case, including the serving of the notices of suspicion, had not been previously reported.
Background:
On 21 July, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General’s Office conducted approximately 70 searches of National Anti-Corruption Bureau employees in various oblasts of Ukraine. The bureau reported that the investigations concerned 15 NABU employees and were conducted without court warrants; most of them were charged with involvement in road accidents, and some were accused of possible connections with Russia.The SSU also initiated an unplanned inspection of the state of protection of state secrets.The SSU and the Prosecutor General’s Office served employees of the NABU with several notices of suspicion by the evening.On 22 July, MPs recommended that the parliament adopt in the second reading draft law No. 12414, which provides for amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, with the committee’s proposals. These changes make anti-corruption agencies dependent on the decisions of the prosecutor general.The NABU and the SAPO believe that draft law No. 12414, which was supported by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) committee, will effectively destroy the independence of the SAPO and subordinate the activities of the NABU and the SAPO to the prosecutor general.
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