Serviceman detained in Odesa region on suspicion of selling white flowers

Police and Security Service of Ukraine officers detained a serviceman in Odesa region on suspicion of influence peddling.

This was reported by the press service of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Odesa region.

According to the investigation, a 31-year-old soldier of one of the military units offered assistance to a man who was liable for military service and wanted to obtain legal grounds for deregistration and travel abroad.

He promised the client in exchange for $9,000 of illegal benefit to influence officials of one of the district territorial centers for recruitment and social support to issue documents on the man's alleged unfitness for military service with the subsequent removal from the wanted list and his discharge. At the same time, he threatened with possible negative consequences in case of refusal to pay the money. And for $300 bribe, he provided an undated summons that was supposed to protect the man from inspections by the TCC and JV military during the execution of the main agreement.

The soldier received all the money in several installments, after which the police detained him. He is currently suspected of<span> obtaining an undue advantage for influencing the decision-making of a person authorized to perform the functions of the state or local government, combined with extortion of such an advantage. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to eight years with confiscation of property.</span>

The court imposed on the suspect a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 832,000.

In January, a police officer in Odesa was found guilty of extortion during martial law. She offered a conscript "help" with traveling abroad. The investigator demonstrated the "reality" of her capabilities, showed examples of documents, and gave instructions on medical examination and border crossing. Her actions were stopped by law enforcement before she actually received the bribe.

Кирило Бойко