The SBU officers, within the framework of counteracting high-level corruption, exposed the officials of structural units of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine on extortion of over USD 1,000,000 (UAH 26,000,000). 

According to investigation, the Head of the liquidation commission of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine-an official of the Office for Operations and ex-official of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine are involved in the illegal activity.

The SBU operatives established that officials through intermediary of two Kyiv business leaders demanded USD 75,000 (UAH 1, 950,000) from the farmer of Kirovograd region. In this amount, the attackers estimated the cost of appointment of the director of one of the state agricultural enterprises. The offenders ensured office using ties with ex-official of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, who is considered to be the “shadow supervisor of the State  Enforcement Service on land issues”.

Furthermore, the suspects extorted additional pay of USD 1,000,000 (UAH 26,000,000) from the farmer. The attackers convinced the client that after appointment he would get his money back because of the lease of land, belonging to the agricultural enterprise, of over three thousand hectares. The suspects agreed to receive money by installments.

The law enforcement officers detained three members involved in illegal activity after receiving the first part of bribe amounting to USD 20, 000 (UAH 520,000) in one of the business centers and the organizer of fraud at his office in State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine.

Within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated under Part 3 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine the issue of serving a notice of suspicion of committing the crime and choosing the form of detention are being settled.

The operation was conducted jointly with the police investigators under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Kharkiv region.

The investigative actions are under way.