Deputy Chairman of the Odessa Regional Council Detained in Connection with a Criminal Scheme

In Odesa, one of the vice chairs of the Odesa Regional Council was arrested; he and his accomplices are suspected of extorting $50,000 from a local businessman.

This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine.

According to the case file, in exchange for this money, the official promised the businessman unimpeded processing of permits for the construction of a cottage community near the port city.

If the developer refused to pay, he was threatened with artificial delays in the preparation of the necessary documents.

To carry out the scheme, according to the investigation, the deputy chairman of the regional council enlisted the secretary of one of the village councils in the Odesa district and the head of an engineering company.

SBU officers documented the suspects’ actions and detained them after they received the first installment of the illicit payment—$10,000.

During searches of the detainees’ residences, law enforcement officers discovered documents and other physical evidence which, according to the SBU, are related to the scheme.

Currently, the deputy chairman of the Odesa Regional Council has been notified of the charges against him. A decision on whether to notify the other participants in the scheme of the charges against them is also pending.

Ірина Глухова