City council official in Odesa region detained for forging documents for pension

Law enforcement officers have detained the head of one of the departments of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City Council of Odesa Oblast on suspicion of forging documents to receive a pension for a bribe.

This was reported by the press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Odesa region.

Investigators claim that the official, having learned that the local resident lacked 10 years of work and insurance experience, offered to forge documents that would allow him to receive pension benefits. She demanded 400 euros for this service.

Law enforcement officers documented the official's illegal actions and detained her immediately after receiving the second part of the bribe in the amount of UAH 10.2 thousand. The money was seized as material evidence.

Having gathered sufficient evidence, police investigators served the suspect a notice of suspicion of receiving an undue advantage by an official for committing any act of abuse of office combined with extortion of an undue advantage in the interests of the person providing the undue advantage.

According to the sanction of Article 368(3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, this crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years, with confiscation of property.

The court imposed on the suspect a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 120,000 and, at the request of law enforcement officers, removed her from her position.

Earlier, the State Bureau of Investigation completed a pre-trial investigation into a large-scale scheme of earnings while issuing hunting licenses at the Southern Interregional Forestry and Hunting Department of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine.

In early 2024, the head of the interregional department, in collusion with his deputy and another subordinate, set up a "flow" of extortion from those wishing to take an exam and obtain a hunting license in Odesa, which allowed them to hunt.

Кирило Бойко