Participants in a criminal scheme in Odesa embezzled real estate worth nearly 20 million

<span><span><span><span><span><span>A corporate raiding scheme was uncovered in Odesa, in which a lawyer, a private notary, and a state registrar illegally seized property. As of 2019, the eight properties were worth 18 million hryvnias.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>This was reported by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>According to the investigation, the group of perpetrators illegally registered three apartments ranging in size from 155 to 280 square meters on Karakashadze Lane, Bazarna Street, and Chornomorska Street; two summer cottages in Velykyi Fontan; a parking space; and two land plots. </span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>To seize the property, the criminals forged the owners’ signatures and drew up fictitious mortgage agreements, purchase and sale agreements, documents regarding the contribution of property to the companies’ authorized capital, technical passports, and BTI reports on the alleged division and demolition of the real estate properties. Two unemployed individuals acted as nominal directors and founders of the shell companies in exchange for compensation. Subsequently, the real estate properties were repeatedly transferred between the shell companies. This was done to legitimize the illegally acquired property.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>According to investigators, the criminal scheme was organized by a 32-year-old lawyer from Odesa. He is suspected of forgery of official documents, misuse of official documents, fraud, laundering of proceeds obtained by criminal means, and unauthorized alteration of information in automated systems. A private notary and a state registrar are suspected of aiding and abetting these crimes. Law enforcement officials are currently investigating the possible involvement of other individuals in the scheme. </span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Cases against the two accomplices who signed the documents are already in court. They are charged under Part 4 of Article 190 and Part 4 of Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The organizer of the scheme is in custody at the request of the prosecutor’s office.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Additionally, in the Odesa region, a channel was uncovered through which individuals subject to military service were leaving the country under the guise of river vessel crew members. According to investigators, the scheme was organized by a current inspector with the State Border Guard Service, who acted in collusion with the director of a crewing company, shipping agents, and employees of various companies. Under this scheme, nearly one hundred and fifty men have already crossed the state border.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

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