Case of bribe extortion by psychiatrist from Odesa sent to court

Investigators have sent to court a case against a psychiatrist at a medical institution in Odesa.

According to the press service of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office, the doctor is charged with extortion and receiving illegal benefits.

According to the investigation, the 41-year-old woman is the head of the department of the medical institution. In December last year, the head of the department was approached by close acquaintances of a 69-year-old man with a request to place him in a hospital. The man's psychological health had deteriorated and he needed medical care.

The doctor demanded USD 500 from them for placing the patient for inpatient treatment for one month. In exchange for the illegal money, she assured them that the patient would be admitted to her department, where the doctor would personally supervise the treatment. In January this year, law enforcement officers exposed the woman while she was receiving the money in a car in the center of Odesa.

If proven guilty, the woman faces imprisonment for a term of five to ten years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years, with confiscation of property.

In March, police officers detained an ophthalmologist in Odesa on suspicion of extorting and receiving $7,500 in undue advantage for processing medical documents and promising to influence the decision of the medical advisory commission to establish a visual disability. The illegal activity of the 51-year-old ophthalmologist of a local clinic was exposed and documented by investigators of the Odesa District Police Department No. 1 jointly with the Internal Security Department in Odesa Region of the SBU Main Directorate of Internal Security.

Кирило Бойко