Prosecutor’s Office and SBU uncover criminal scheme of bribery for closing enforcement proceedings in interregional department of the Ministry of Justice
Prosecutors of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office served a notice of suspicion to the former head of an independent structural unit of one of the interregional departments of the Ministry of Justice on the fact of extortion and receipt of unlawful benefit (Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
According to the investigation, the suspect, together with his supervisor, the head of the interregional department, set up a scheme to obtain an unlawful benefit for the termination of enforcement proceedings.
The amount of the unlawful benefit was 70% of the payment to be made to the debtor.
It was documented that the suspects did not take the bribe personally, but through an intermediary – their friend.
After receiving the bribe, the proceedings were closed and the debtor’s property and bank accounts were released without the actual payment of the required fees.
In this way, the officials received about UAH 200 thousand of unlawful benefit for closing the enforcement proceedings.
The investigation is ongoing. Currently, the officials suspected of committing the crime have been dismissed from their positions.
It should be noted that another accomplice, the former head of the interregional department of the Ministry of Justice, was previously served a notice of suspicion of extortion and receipt of unlawful benefit (part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Also, their accomplice, a resident of Ivano-Frankivsk, was served a notice of suspicion of aiding and abetting in obtaining an unlawful benefit (Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The pre-trial investigation is being carried out by investigators of the Main Department of the National Police in Lviv region based on the materials of the SBU Office in Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Note: In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person shall be presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt is proved by law and established by a court verdict of guilty.
Information Policy Department
of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office
