Arrest of Document Forger in Odesa
In Odesa, law enforcement officials apprehended an individual involved in document forgery to assist foreigners in legalizing their status and avoiding military service for Ukrainians. For a fee, the perpetrator provided clients with fake residency permits, foreign passports, and various other documents. His actions were classified under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which could lead to a sentence of up to nine years in prison with asset confiscation.
The 35-year-old Odesa resident was exposed and caught by the migration police and investigators. They received information about his operations and discovered that he personally produced documents at home, falsifying the seals of state authorities.
For $1500, he promised to create a Moldovan citizen passport, military ID, pension certificate, and other forged documents that would allow one to evade mobilization.
The criminal accepted photographs and copies of personal documents from clients and received payment through a cryptocurrency wallet. He then forged the documents and sent them by mail along with instructions.
With the support of a special police battalion, the organizer of the criminal scheme was detained during the operation. Police seized seals and documents from his home that are significant for the investigation.
The police informed the suspect of charges under two articles of the Criminal Code:
- Part 3 of Article 332 – organizing the illegal transportation of persons across the state border;
- Part 1 of Article 358 – forgery of official documents.
The maximum penalty he faces is up to nine years in prison with a potential ban on holding certain positions for up to three years.
The court has chosen a preventive measure of detention with the right to bail. Police will continue the investigation to determine the source of the seals and the suspect's involvement in other similar schemes.
