In the Ternopil region, a group of employees of one of the district TCC and SP were exposed for setting up corrupt schemes to avoid mobilization, within the framework of which they, in particular, resorted to beating and kidnapping conscripts.
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The National Police press service reported this today, August 2.
It is noted that the five suspects clearly divided the roles among themselves.
In order to force conscripts to pay, they even resorted to threats, beatings and kidnappings, the police said.
Among those affected by the group’s activities is a resident of the Chertkovsky district, who was not subject to conscription for military service during mobilization, since he is the father of four children, three of whom are minors:
- at night, men in uniform burst into his house, began kicking him in the body, and then dragged him out of the building and took him away to an unknown location;
- the next day he was taken to a bus stop. It turned out that a ransom of almost 30 thousand UAH was paid for him – the money was collected by relatives;
- Following the incident, he was diagnosed with broken ribs and other injuries.
Law enforcement officials reported the exposure of this group, whose monthly earnings ranged from 100 to 150 thousand US dollars, at the end of July. During the investigation, new evidence of their illegal activities was collected. In particular, it was established that:
- The head of the local TCC organized the corruption scheme. Four more people were involved in the case, three of them were employees of the recruitment center, and another was a former military serviceman;
- members of the criminal group demanded and received illegal benefits for resolving issues to avoid mobilization of military personnel – failure to undergo military medical examination, updating military data, obtaining a deferment from military service;
- The criminals’ monthly “earnings” ranged from $100,000 to $150,000. The organizer and assistants divided the proceeds between themselves. The size of the “salary” depended on the tasks completed.
Earlier, the police reported that the “services” of the criminals for “influencing” members of the VLK with the aim of writing them off from military service, as well as for assistance in transferring them from combat units to rear units with the prospect of release from the troops, cost from 5 to 15 thousand US dollars.
The defendants also created artificial obstacles to obtaining documents for persons who had a legal right to a deferment and mobilized them in order to increase the performance indicator. Subsequently, such persons were discharged from military service for money.
The head of the corruption scheme was notified of suspicion by the police during a meeting with the heads of the TCC and SP, which was held at the Ternopil Regional Military Administration.
On July 24, after the suspicion was announced, the court chose a preventive measure for the defendants with the right to post bail in the amount of 242 thousand UAH, and they took advantage of this opportunity. However, the investigation did not stop, and new details were established in this case.
Today, the police reported that the organizer and four accomplices were charged with criminal offenses under:
- Part 3 of Article 369-2 (acceptance of an offer, promise or obtaining an undue benefit);
- Part 3 of Article 368 (acceptance of an offer, promise or obtaining an unlawful benefit in a large amount);
- Part 2, 3 of Art. 27 Part 3 of Art. 28 Part 3 of Art. 368, Part 3 of Art. 146 (illegal deprivation of a person’s liberty, accompanied by causing him physical suffering, committed for selfish motives by an organized group);
- Part 2, 3 of Art. 27 Part 3 of Art. 28 Part 1 of Art. 122 (intentional moderate bodily injury) of the Criminal Code.
The question of choosing a preventive measure for the suspect is being decided. Investigators have filed a motion to keep him in custody without the right to post bail, the police noted.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.