A fake booking scheme was operating in Mykolaiv

The head of the regional boxing federation was notified of suspicion of organizing a scheme to illegally travel abroad through a system of fictitious bookings and fictitious business trips. Criminal proceedings have already been opened and the investigation is ongoing.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the organizer of the scheme, a native of Luhansk region, head of the regional boxing federation, known in criminal circles, involved three countrymen in illegal activities. The scheme operated in Odesa, Kyiv, Mykolaiv and Ternopil, where the suspects lived.

In exchange for money, the group members fictitiously employed conscripts at a controlled company in Kyiv, which had booking quotas as a critical infrastructure enterprise. It operates in the construction sector and has the ability to issue business trips to employees. In this way, clients received a deferral from mobilization and unimpeded travel abroad.

The cost of fictitious employment with a reservation was up to $8,000, and employment with a business trip was $10,000. To travel abroad without employment, illegally outside the border crossing with Moldova, one had to pay $15,000.

In addition, the"booked" clients were charged 10,000 hryvnias per month to pay tax for fictitious employment.

According to preliminary data, at least 40 people used their services.

As a result of searches at the suspects' residences, offices and vehicles, the following items were seized: over UAH 5 million, computer equipment, mobile phones, draft records, travel orders and other documents.

At present, four persons, depending on their role and participation in criminal activity, have been served notices of <span>illegal transportation of persons across the state border and </span>obstruction of the lawful activity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Two suspects were chosen as a measure of restraint in the form of custody with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 2.6 million. Two more are in custody without bail.

The SBU is also identifying the suspects' accomplices at the company where they falsely employed persons liable for military service.

The maximum penalty for the charged articles is up to nine years in prison.

Олеся Ланцман