In Lviv region, law enforcement officers have uncovered a scheme to extort non-existent debts, organised from a penal institution. This was reported by the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine.
According to the investigation, the scheme was organised by a 39-year-old criminal nicknamed “Altai”, close to the so-called “overseer” for Boryslav and who holds the status of a “vagrant” in the criminal milieu. While in the colony, he allegedly continued to coordinate criminal activity on the outside, relying on his authority among individuals inclined to commit offences.
In one of the episodes, as law enforcement officers established, “Altai” demanded, through accomplices, 5,000 US dollars from the victim for allegedly existing debt obligations.
In January this year, police conducted eight searches, including at the Lviv penal institution where “Altai” was being held at the time. Following this, investigators notified the inmate and his two accomplices that they were under suspicion.
The members of the group were detained under Article 615 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of remand in custody without the right to bail.