Prosecutors of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office have sent to court an indictment against the head and chief specialist of one of the departments of the Main Directorate of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Volyn Oblast. They are charged with abuse of influence and aiding and abetting in the abuse of influence, respectively (part 3 of Article 369-2, part 5 of Article 27, part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The investigation established that the official of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection demanded that an employee of a subordinate state laboratory provide him with an illegal benefit on a systematic basis. The amount was USD 400 per month.
In return for this money, the man promised to influence the head of the state laboratory not to create artificial obstacles in the employee’s work. Namely, not to conduct inspections of her work performance and not to bring her to disciplinary responsibility.
He involved his employee in his scheme, in particular to receive the “payment”.
The illegal activity was stopped after the chief himself received the agreed funds.
In total, the documented bribes totalled USD 2,000.
The pre-trial investigation was carried out by the SBI Territorial Administration, the operational support was provided by the Strategic Investigations Department in Volyn region of the State Secret Service of Ukraine.
Note: In accordance with Art. 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt is proved in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict of guilty.
Information Policy Department
of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office
