The perpetrator was apprehended immediately after attempting to extort money from a military conscript. To achieve his goals, he manipulated the victim. The fate of the suspect will be decided by the court.

Officers from the Odesa Internal Security Department of the National Police, in collaboration with investigators from the Odesa Regional Police, uncovered illegal activities involving a 33-year-old resident of Odesa. This was not his first offense.

Despite a previous conviction for fraud and current charges of abuse of power, the criminal continued his illicit activities. He offered a man, who had military deferment documents until February 2026, a way to remove him from military registration due to health reasons for $15,000.

To make his offer convincing, he posed as a lawyer and claimed to have connections with officials from the local recruitment center.

To coerce the man into compliance, the fraudster threatened to cancel his deferment and put him on a wanted list. He also insisted that the opportunity to finalize the paperwork was available only at that moment, and the next chance would not arise for at least six months.

Immediately after receiving the money, the officers of the Internal Security Department and Odesa police arrested the swindler under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. He has already been notified of suspicion under part 3 of Article 369-2 (Abuse of Influence) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a penalty of up to 8 years in prison.

The Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office is overseeing the proceedings.

Source: https://od.npu.gov.ua/news/za-15-000-dolariv-obitsiav-zvilnyty-vid-viiskovoi-sluzhby-v-odesi-natspolitsiia-zatrymaly-psevdoadvokata