Head of fuel depot detained on suspicion of influence peddling for bribery

Prosecutors of the Odesa Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office in the Southern Region have served a notice of suspicion to the head of a fuel and lubricants depot of one of the electronic warfare battalions.

According to the prosecutor's office, he is suspected of abuse of influence for mercenary reasons.

According to the investigation, a serviceman turned to the suspect for advice on returning his friend to service in the relevant military unit. Deciding to use the situation in his favor, the suspect offered to influence the decision of the unit's command and the district territorial center for recruitment and social support regarding his appointment for USD 2 thousand.

The suspect assured that if he agreed, the issue would be resolved positively. After the money transfer, law enforcement officers detained him. Part of the money - USD 700 - was seized during a search at his place of residence.

Currently, he has been detained as a preventive measure in the form of custody with an alternative bail in the amount of UAH 1 million 816 thousand.

The suspect, if proven guilty in court, faces 3 to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Earlier, the Primorskyi Court of Odesa approved a plea agreement between the driver of the training vessel unit of the Institute of Naval Forces of the National University "Odesa Maritime Academy" and the prosecutor regarding the bribe. He demanded the money to influence unidentified officials of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to transfer a serviceman from a combat military unit to a rear military unit for further service.

The law enforcement also served two Odesa residents with suspicion notices of extortion and receiving an unlawful benefit for influencing a decision by a person authorized to perform public functions.

Кирило Бойко