Workshop of fake documents for conscripts exposed in Odesa

In Odesa, police have completed a pre-trial investigation into a man who organized the production of forged documents for people liable for military service so that they could travel abroad. He faces up to nine years in prison and confiscation of property for his actions.

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

Law enforcement officers found that last fall, the offender set up a printing workshop at home, where he produced fake documents with seals and signatures of government officials.

For USD 1500, he promised his "clients" to forge passports of Moldovan citizens, military service certificates, pension documents and disability certificates, which allowed them to avoid mobilization and travel freely abroad.

The defendant received photos and copies of documents from clients, and received payment on a cryptocurrency wallet. After making the fakes, he would send them by mail on someone else's behalf along with instructions for use.

During the search of the offender's home, police seized numerous seals of state and medical institutions, printing equipment, forged IDs, disability certificates, temporary documents of persons liable for military service, medical records and other materials that testified to criminal activity. Forensic experts confirmed that the seized documents were forged and did not correspond to official samples.

At the request of the investigators, the court imposed on the suspect a custodial sentence with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 4.5 million, which he did not use.

At the moment, the man is charged under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 3 of Art. 332 - organization of illegal transportation of persons across the border for mercenary purposes; Part 3 of Art. 358 - forgery of official documents and their sale in collusion with other persons. Law enforcement officers have already sent the indictment to court.

SBU officers also detained a deputy of one of the city councils in Odesa region on suspicion of helping people liable for military service to obtain a deferral from mobilization for health reasons.

Анна Бальчінос