In Odesa, two people smugglers were sentenced to four years each

The Khadzhybeyskyi District Court of Odesa sentenced two men accused of smuggling men liable for military service across the border to 4.5 and 4 years in prison.

According to the court' s verdict, in February 2024, the defendants offered a citizen to illegally transport him across the state border of Ukraine via the Telegram messenger and scheduled a meeting to discuss organizational issues in this regard, noting that for further assistance it would be necessary to provide funds in the amount of USD 500 as a partial payment during the meeting.

During the meeting, they informed the client that they would transport him abroad and that it would cost USD 11 thousand. At the same time, they told the client how they planned to transport him across the border, promising that they could produce the necessary documents for this.

He was given forged documents, namely: a certificate to the act of examination by the medical and social expert commission, a certificate for receiving benefits by persons with disabilities who are not entitled to a pension or social assistance dated July 20, 2023.

Determining the sincere remorse of the accused as a mitigating circumstance, the court took into account that in addition to recognizing the fact of committing a criminal offense, there was also a real, frank, and not imaginary admission of their guilt in the crime, which the accused expressed sincere regret about this and publicly condemned their behavior in court. In the court's opinion, the sincerity of the repentance was also evidenced by the fact that the defendants gave truthful testimony in court about themselves and other members of the criminal group, and their willingness to be punished.

In addition, the court took into account that although the actions of the defendants had all the formal signs of a completed crime, it also took into account that the crime committed by the defendants did not entail any significant or grave consequences, including the illegal crossing of the state border of Ukraine. In view of this, the court, accordingly, considered it possible to recognize the absence of significant or grave consequences of the criminal offense as a circumstance mitigating the punishment of the accused.

Кирило Бойко