In Lviv, a scheme of sham employment of men liable for military service at a municipal dental clinic in return for payment has been uncovered. This was reported under the procedural guidance of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the investigation, those involved in organising the scheme include the general director of one of Lviv’s municipal dental clinics and the head of the dental department of this institution. The head of the medical facility was responsible for directly appointing men liable for military service to posts, while the department head facilitated their formal recruitment, gave instructions regarding employment, and handled the receipt and transfer of funds.
The investigation documented that at the beginning of August this year, a 35-year-old Lviv resident was formally employed as a dentist. In reality, he did not provide services at the municipal enterprise and continued his private practice, but obtained grounds for deferral from mobilisation, which allowed him to allegedly avoid service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a seemingly legal way.
The cost of such employment, according to the investigators, amounted to 5,500 US dollars. The accomplices shared the money among themselves. Their unlawful activity has now been stopped.
Both officials have been notified of suspicion of obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations during a special period (Part 1, Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). In addition, the general director is charged with accepting an offer and receiving an unlawful benefit by an official using their position (Part 1, Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), while the department head is charged with receiving an unlawful benefit for influencing decision-making by persons authorised to perform the functions of the state or local self-government, combined with extortion of such a benefit (Part 3, Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Investigators of the SBU Office in Lviv Region are continuing the pre-trial investigation, identifying other individuals who may be involved in the unlawful activity, including among the staff of the medical facility. A decision is being considered on suspending the suspects from their positions and selecting a preventive measure in the form of remand in custody.
Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime until their guilt is proven in the manner prescribed by law and confirmed by a guilty verdict of the court.