Court sends law enforcement officer to prison in Odesa region

The Podilskyi City District Court of Odesa Region has sentenced a law enforcement officer who wanted to set up a channel for smuggling men of military age to Moldova.

According to the press service of the State Bureau of Investigation, he was sentenced to four years in prison with confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to hold positions in the Border Guard Service for two years.

The investigation established that in February 2025, the law enforcement officer, who was well aware of the border area and the location of checkpoints, decided to organize a channel for the illegal transportation of people across the border. He involved a military acquaintance who was looking for people to get to Moldova. The organizer himself, according to his plan, was supposed to give advice on where and when to "unnoticeably" bypass checkpoints and border patrols. For such consultations, he planned to charge 1 thousand US dollars per person.

On March 11, 2025, the law enforcement officer was detained while receiving USD 2,000 for smuggling two people. The court found the defendant guilty of organizing illegal transportation of persons across the state border and abuse of influence.

Earlier, a serviceman from Odesa was found guilty of corruption and bribery. The court sentenced him to a fine and confiscation, as well as canceled his bail and seizure of property. According to the investigation, the serviceman, contrary to the requirements of the Constitution and military regulations, facilitated the transfer of servicemen from combat units to rear units for further service in exchange for a monetary reward. The total amount of money received amounted to UAH 124,820 and USD 2,000.

The Odesa court also arrested an employee of a local military academy who is suspected of involvement in organizing a scheme to evade mobilization. According to the investigation, at the time of the crime, the man held the position of an inspector for military registration and reservation. Together with four accomplices, he allegedly demanded and received bribes totaling more than USD 12,000 and UAH 20,000.

Кирило Бойко