Odesa resident detained in Kyiv for organizing a scheme to sell reservations

Kyiv police operatives conducted more than 50 searches in several regions and detained participants in a criminal scheme to avoid mobilization by persons liable for military service.

According to the press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Odesa region, the criminal scheme was organized by a resident of Odesa known in criminal circles.

According to the investigation, he involved representatives of a controlled company, territorial centers for recruitment and social support, as well as residents of Odesa, Kyiv, Mykolaiv and Ternopil.

In exchange for a monetary reward, the scheme participants fictitiously employed persons liable for military service in a controlled company that had quotas for reservations as a critical infrastructure enterprise, and also issued fictitious business trips from the same company. In this way, clients received a deferral from mobilization and unimpeded travel abroad.

The cost of booking was up to USD 8 thousand, and the cost of a business trip was USD 10 thousand. And for an additional payment of up to 15 thousand dollars, the group members organized the illegal transportation of people across the state border outside checkpoints.

In addition, the booked clients were charged UAH 10 thousand per month for the so-called maintenance of the scheme - the funds were accumulated and distributed among the members of the criminal group. According to preliminary information, more than 40 people used the services of the group members.

During the searches, the police seized over 96 thousand dollars, 12 thousand euros, 250 thousand hryvnias, documentation, company seals, photocopies of personal documents of clients, mobile phones, bank cards, vehicles, including Lexus, Porsche Macan, BMW X5, Mercedes-benz, and draft records confirming the illegal activity.

<span class="ratio ratio-16x9"></span>
VIDEO: National Police in Odesa region

Four people, depending on their role and participation in the criminal activity, were served a notice of suspicion of<span> illegal transportation of persons across the state border and obstruction</span>of the legitimate activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Pre-trial restraints were imposed on the suspects: two suspects were held in custody without bail, and two others were held in custody with the possibility of being released on bail in the amount of UAH 2.6 million each. The maximum penalty for the charged articles is up to nine years in prison.

Кирило Бойко