In Odessa, a lawyer was detained for promising to close a case in exchange for $315,000

In Odesa, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) caught a lawyer “red-handed” as he was demanding $315,000 from the head of a local charitable foundation. Law enforcement officials believe the lawyer promised to arrange for the criminal case to be closed in exchange for this money.

This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine. 

The suspect has already been notified of charges of attempted embezzlement of another person’s property through fraud on an especially large scale. The penalty under this article provides for imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property.

Investigators noted that the lawyer offered the foundation’s president a fee to halt the investigation against her. According to them, the suspect claimed he would try to reach an agreement with officials from the Security Service of Ukraine and the prosecutor’s office.

Law enforcement officers detained the lawyer immediately after he received the full amount of money.

At this time, law enforcement officials are not disclosing the name of the charitable foundation whose director is involved in the case. 

Earlier in Kodym, a local lawyer—who had been appointed by the state to provide pro bono legal assistance to a defendant—attempted to bribe a judge and a prosecutor. The court found him guilty and imposed a fine. In court, the lawyer fully admitted his guilt and expressed remorse. He also stated that he had returned the funds he had received to the owner. 

Юлія Калабайда