The case involving the head of the South Ukrainian Children's Services Department has been referred to court

The case involving the head of the Children's Services Department in the Pivdennoukrainsk district of the Mykolaiv region has been referred to court. He is suspected of helping to arrange a deferral in exchange for a bribe.

This was reported by the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the investigation, the official offered to help a servicemember get discharged from service in exchange for money, citing the need to provide constant care for his mother. He was familiar with the procedure for discharge due to family circumstances and promised to arrange for the necessary medical documents to be obtained.

In addition, the official assured the soldier that he would use his influence with officials at the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support to ensure they would approve the request.

He received $2,500 for his services.

During a search of the official’s premises, medical documents in the names of three active-duty service members were also seized. According to the prosecutor’s office, these documents could have served as grounds for their discharge from military service.

The indictment was filed with the court under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: receiving an unlawful benefit in exchange for a promise to influence the decisions of officials (Part 2 of Article 369-2) and obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a special period (Part 1 of Article 114-1).

If found guilty, the man faces five to eight years in prison.

Back in September, Intent reported that officials of the Pivdennoukrainsk City Council may have used their connections with employees of the social protection department and doctors to prepare the documents necessary to obtain a deferment from mobilization.

The head of the city council’s child welfare service is implicated in one of the incidents.

Ірина Глухова