Odesa Police Officers Detained for Extorting ₴40K in Bribes from Entrepreneurs

In Odesa, two heads of preventive activity units of a police department were detained. They systematically extorted bribes from entrepreneurs.

This was reported by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to the investigation, the suspects organized a corruption scheme in which they extorted bribes from entrepreneurs for not interfering with their business activities. In exchange for the "reward," the police promised not to bring them to administrative responsibility for violations committed in the course of doing business, as well as not to take mobilization measures against the entrepreneurs' employees.

Photo: Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

In particular, the owner of a tire shop paid USD 500 for a "free" business, and then had to regularly pay USD 150 per month. The police officers were detained after receiving another sum of almost 40 thousand hryvnias, which the businessman handed over to them for several months of work.

The suspects have already been chosen a measure of restraint in the form of detention with the possibility of bail. The issue of their removal from office is currently being decided.

Earlier, Intent wrote about a similar case. Back then, two Odesa police officers were also exposed for corruption, who organized a scheme to receive monthly bribes from entrepreneurs of the 7 Kilometer industrial market.

It also became known that one of the officials of the Odesa City Council organized a corruption scheme. He demanded bribes from entrepreneurs and threatened to dismantle their outlets in case of disagreement.

In addition, heads of tax and customs departments were detained in Odesa region for organizing a corruption scheme. Among the detainees are the acting deputy head of one of the customs posts of Odesa Customs and the head of the regional department of the State Tax Service.

Ірина Глухова