Law enforcers announce completion of investigation into judicial criminal group in Odesa region

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office have opened a case file on an organized criminal group that worked within the judicial system in Odesa region and helped men with military service to illegally travel abroad and receive a deferral from mobilization.

According to the NABU press service, the scheme consisted of massively stamping court decisions on the alleged independent upbringing of a child by a father under far-fetched circumstances. This allowed men to avoid mobilization and leave the country under the pretext of childcare. For 3,500 USD, without the participation of the parties, a decision was made in one court session that gave the right to travel abroad. In total, the investigation identified 1,40 such decisions.

For conspiracy purposes, the offenders set up a back office of the court in a law firm and even advertised their services on social media.

Currently, three members of the organized criminal group and 2 persons associated with its activities are suspected:

• the head of the court (organizer)
• a judge
• a lawyer (co-organizer);
• two judge assistants.

Their actions are qualified under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Art. 368 - obtaining an unlawful benefit;
• Art. 369 - giving an undue advantage;
• Art. 332 - organization of illegal border crossing;
• Art. 114-1 - obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
• Article 376-1 - illegal interference with the work of automated justice systems.

Six more people made a deal with the investigation. Their testimony will be used to prove the guilt of the rest of the group, including its organizers. This is an agreement between the prosecutor and Iryna Chervynska, a former court clerk of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City District Court of Odesa Region.

Кирило Бойко