Odesa customs official sent to pre-trial detention center on suspicion of bribery

A court has imposed a pre-trial restraint on an official of the Odesa Customs suspected of extortion and receiving an unlawful benefit.

According to the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office, the suspect, using her official position, demanded and received more than UAH 270,000 from a representative of two companies.

In return, she promised not to take measures to maximize fines for violations of customs legislation. On August 7, the customs officer was served a notice of suspicion under Article 368 (3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - obtaining an unlawful benefit combined with extortion.

On August 8, the court imposed a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with bail set at UAH 787,000.

If proven guilty in court, the woman faces imprisonment for a term of five to ten years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years, with confiscation of property.

However, a plea bargain with the investigation is also possible, which sometimes allows avoiding imprisonment. For example, a soldier from Odesa was found guilty of corruption and bribery. The court sentenced him to a fine and confiscation, and canceled his bail and seizure of property. The soldier pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement with the Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Southern Region, which the court approved. According to this decision, he was fined UAH 170,000.

The Savransky District Court of Odesa Region also approved a plea agreement between the prosecutor and former Bakshany village head Petro Tarabanchuk on the latter's guilty plea to taking a bribe. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but the actual term was commuted to probation for three years.

Кирило Бойко