The case of abuse of influence in Odesa has come to light: a 44-year-old man attempted to obtain $5,500 in exchange for a promise of mobilization deferral under the guise of «employment». The police have completed the pre-trial investigation and referred the case to court, where the accused faces up to eight years in prison with asset confiscation.
Officers from the Odesa Department of Internal Security of the National Police, in collaboration with the local police, uncovered this criminal scheme last autumn. According to the investigation, the man offered a friend, who was subject to mobilization, «assistance» in receiving a deferral. He claimed to have connections within the SBU to secure the «client» a position as a «non-staff agent» for $5,500. When the conscript expressed doubts about the legality of the offer, the offender began to threaten him.
The arrest occurred at a gas station in the Kyiv district of Odesa, after the offender received copies of the victim's documents and $4,400. Law enforcement seized the money and documents as evidence in the case.
The court has imposed a preventive measure of detention with the possibility of bail. The charges are based on Article 369-2, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which prescribes imprisonment for up to eight years with asset confiscation. The case will be supported by the Kyiv District Prosecutor's Office in Odesa.