In Odesa, two men are facing court for trying to secure a bribe of $11,000 to defer military service by claiming to care for a 'sick' father. Their scheme involved influencing officials from the Territorial Recruitment Center (TCC) to help a client avoid conscription, but they were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe. The investigation has concluded, and the indictment has been sent to court. The offenders are at risk of imprisonment.
The criminal activities of the two suspects, aged 28 and 45, were uncovered in early July this year by the Odesa District Police Department in collaboration with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
During the investigation, police discovered that the accomplices had identified a conscripted individual and boasted about their connections with officials from the TCC, claiming they could resolve mobilization issues for a fee. They promised to provide the client with a document for temporary exemption from conscription due to caring for a father who was, in fact, healthy. Their services were valued at $11,000.
Police documented the illicit transaction and arrested the offenders after they received the first installment of $5,000 along with personal documents meant for filing at a recruitment center for a fake deferment. The rest of the bribe was to be paid in the coming weeks upon receiving the promised document.
Investigators seized the documents, illegally obtained money, and mobile phones containing evidence of wrongdoing. The suspects were detained and later granted bail. The pre-trial investigation has been completed, and the indictment under part 2 of article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine has been forwarded to court. The defendants are charged with abuse of influence and receiving illegal benefits for influencing a decision made by a state official, committed by a group in collusion. The maximum penalty for this offense is five years of imprisonment.