Head of village council of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district sent to court for bribery

Law enforcers have brought to court a case against the head of a village council in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district, who is suspected of extortion and bribery. The indictment has already been sent, and the woman may face a real prison term.

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

The investigation found that the official's illegal activities were exposed in January of this year by officers of the district police department together with operatives of the Strategic Investigations Department in Odesa region.

According to the investigation, the head of the village council was approached by an entrepreneur who wanted to know about the procedure for leasing a land plot for a gas station. Taking advantage of the situation, the official offered her "help" in obtaining a 0.0414-hectare plot for a fee.

She assured that she would be able to influence the consideration of the issue by the land commission, facilitate its inclusion in the agenda of the session and help to make a decision on the transfer of land for 49 years with the subsequent conclusion of a contract.

The official estimated her services at UAH 95,000. After receiving the agreed amount and a report on the allegedly fulfilled obligations, she was detained by law enforcement.

According to Pavlo Bobchynskyi, head of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi District Police Department, the woman is charged with taking a bribe by an official. The indictment has already been sent to court.

The suspect was suspended from office for the period of the trial and a measure of restraint in the form of round-the-clock house arrest was imposed on her. In addition, the court seized her property, including a land plot.

If proven guilty, the woman faces up to 10 years in prison with a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years, as well as confiscation of property.

Investigators also sent to court the case of the chief specialist of the Department of Control and Monitoring of the Territory of the Peresypskyi District Administration of Odesa, who is accused of extortion and bribery.

Анна Бальчінос