State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection inspector caught on bribes in Chornomorsk

In Chornomorsk, a state inspector was exposed for demanding bribes for issuing phytosanitary certificates for the export of agricultural products. Despite the proven episodes of corruption, the court reduced the bail by more than three times, taking into account the difficult family circumstances of the accused.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Chornomorsk City Court.

According to the case file, an inspector of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection set up a corruption scheme when processing export documents for agricultural products. The investigation found that he demanded USD 25 for each international phytosanitary certificate from a representative of Camion Logistics. Law enforcement officers documented two episodes of bribery: in March 2025, the official received $850, and in April, another $1,575 for issuing 97 certificates.

The defense filed a motion with the court to reduce the bail, citing the critical condition of the defendant's family. The official's common-law wife suffers from cancer and needs an urgent expensive surgery. In addition, the man is dependent on his son, who has a group II disability since childhood. The lawyer emphasized that the funds previously paid as bail were the only financial resource the family had to save the woman's life.

The prosecutor objected to the motion, citing the gravity of the crime and the risk of influencing witnesses. However, the court, taking into account the impeccable procedural behavior of the defendant in recent months and difficult family circumstances, sided with the defendant.

The court reduced the bail for the inspector accused of bribery from UAH 242,000 to UAH 66,000. The decision was made taking into account family circumstances, including the serious illness of his common-law wife and the family's health.

The judge ruled to return the difference of over UAH 175 thousand to the pledgers. Despite the reduction of the financial restriction, the official still faces up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property. He is currently free on bail.

Also in April, a court in Odesa region approved an agreement between the prosecutor and the deputy director of the Artsyzsk Professional Agricultural Lyceum to plead guilty to bribery. The man who approached the teacher learned from his friend that the certificate could be obtained through the lyceum officials, only after which he could take an exam at the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

Анна Бальчінос