Odesa Doctor Arrested for $6K Bribe to Discharge Soldier from Service

The police notified the deputy head of the medical advisory commission of a hospital in Podil district of Odesa region that he was suspected of conspiring with unidentified officials of the military medical clinical center of the Southern region to take a bribe.

According to the Main Directorate of the National Police in Odesa region, the doctor offered the citizen to help his acquaintance, a soldier of one of the military units, to resign from service for health reasons.

For his services , the detainee asked for 6 thousand US dollars. For this amount, he promised to provide the soldier with medical documents on diseases that would be the basis for the military medical commission to conclude that he should be discharged from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and even organized inpatient treatment for the soldier.

In the course of measures to stop the criminal activity of the defendant, the police documented the receipt of the illegal benefit in two tranches and the transfer of the promised medical documents, after which he was detained in accordance with the procedural procedure.

Based on the evidence collected, investigators served the offender a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - obtaining an undue advantage for himself for performing an act in the interests of a third party using his official position, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years with disqualification to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years and confiscation of property.

The court imposed on the suspect a custodial measure of restraint with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 908.4 thousand. The persons involved in the fraud are being identified.

Кирило Бойко