In case of non-payment, the defendants threatened to cause moral suffering and destroy the property of the victim and his family. They may spend the next 12 years behind bars.
According to operatives of the Strategic Investigations Department in Lviv Region of the National Police, a group of people – the so-called “supervisors” of the cities of Truskavets, Boryslav and Stebnyk – forced local entrepreneurs to pay them far-fetched debts by intimidation and threats. In this way, the formerly convicted persons improved their financial situation.
The defendants extorted UAH 100,000 from one of the entrepreneurs. Fearing physical violence and lacking the entire amount, the victim paid the “debt” in installments.
On January 24, in Truskavets, the SBU operatives jointly with investigators of the Lviv Oblast National Police detained two “supervisors” while they were receiving UAH 40,000 from the victim, a part of the fictitious debt. Both were detained in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
They were served a notice of suspicion under Part 4 Article 189 (extortion) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The issue of choosing a measure of restraint is being decided.
The offenders may face up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The operation was conducted jointly with the operational department of the Drohobych Correctional Colony No. 40. Procedural supervision is provided by the Lviv Region Prosecutor’s Office.