Individuals have been charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The criminals are in custody and face up to 12 years in prison along with asset confiscation.

Investigators from the Odesa District Police Department No. 1, in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine in the Odesa region, halted the illicit activities of the criminals under the supervision of the Odesa city prosecutor's office.

Law enforcement discovered that three young men, who had recently arrived in Odesa, sought to improve their financial situation through illegal means. They targeted a 22-year-old local resident, demanding $50,000 for a non-existent debt while threatening him with violence.

According to the head of the investigative department, Denis Chub, the perpetrators extorted $900 and 1,600 hryvnias, took the victim’s car, assaulted him, and threatened him with a firearm, demanding the rest of the “debt.”

The criminals planned to hold the victim until they received all the money, but were apprehended by the police during a special operation.

The offenders had a gas-like pistol, some of the stolen money, and other items of interest to the investigation confiscated.

The suspects have been charged with:

- extortion of someone else's property under threat of violence by a group of individuals during a state of war (part 4 of article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);

- illegal seizure of a vehicle valued at over 250 times the non-taxable minimum income of citizens, committed by a group, accompanied by threats of violence (part 3 of article 289 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);

- illegal deprivation of liberty for selfish motives, by prior conspiracy of a group of individuals, accompanied by inflicting physical suffering with the use of a weapon (part 2 of article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Following an expert examination of the seized firearm, further legal classification may apply under article 263 of the Criminal Code regarding illegal handling of weapons.

“Upon our application, the court has chosen a preventive measure for the suspects in the form of custody without the right to bail. They face up to 12 years in prison with asset confiscation,” added police major Denis Chub.

Source: https://od.npu.gov.ua/news/vymahaly-v-odesyta-50-000-dolariv-zavolodily-ioho-avtivkoiu-ta-pozbavyly-voli-politseiski-spilno-z-sbu-zatrymaly-hrupu-zlovmysnykiv