Corruption in Odesa's shopping mall: money for mobilization and threats with weapons

SBI exposes employees of Odesa TCC who detained men at checkpoints and extorted money for deferral of mobilization

This was reported by the press service of the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation.

SBI officers exposed employees of the Odesa District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support who extorted money from conscripts at checkpoints in the region. They stopped the men, recorded their personal data, and informed them that they planned to bring them to the TCC for mobilization.

In exchange for the money, the TCC employees promised to "release" the persons liable for military service and help them to obtain a deferment from service. This service was estimated at USD 4.5 thousand. In case of refusal to pay, the men were threatened with being put on the wanted list.

In particular, law enforcement officers documented the extortion of money from a man who had relatives among those missing in action. Therefore, he was legally deferred from mobilization.

On November 21, 2024, SBI officers detained one of the intermediaries while receiving payment for the "service". The issue of detention and serving a notice of suspicion to the other participants in the transaction is being resolved.

Currently, the detainee has been served a notice of suspicion of receiving an unlawful benefit by an official (Part 3 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Photo: SBI

During the search of the apartment of one of the possible suspects, he took out his service weapon and pointed it at the SBI officers. He put the firearm in a combat position and threatened to return the seized cell phone and leave his house.

He has been detained and served a notice of suspicion of attempted murder of law enforcement officers in the line of duty (Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The issue of choosing a measure of restraint and removal from office is being decided. He may face life imprisonment for his actions.

Procedural guidance is provided by the Odesa Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Southern Region and the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Андрій Колісніченко