The SBU prevented kidnapping aimed at getting a ransom for a retired judge of the Supreme Economic Court of Ukraine.

Allegedly, a former chief of Oleksandriiskyi department of State Automobile Inspection of MIA in Kirovohrad region organized the fraud in order to improve his welfare.

He looked for a performer of the crime among criminals in Kirovohrad region. According to the plan, his associate had to kidnap a judge from his home in Kyiv and then forcibly keep him in one of Kyiv garages.

By blackmailing and intimidations the organizer planned to get a ransom (UAH 300,000 = USD 12,000) from the victim’s wife (a secretary of the Supreme Court of Ukraine). She had to pass the money over organizer’s accomplice.

The law enforcement imitated the conducted kidnapping of the “victim”.

To avoid disclosure, the organizer bought new mobile phones for negotiations and made calls from Kremenchuk city (Poltava region).

He was detained at a petrol station in Kirovohrad region when he received the ransom.

The issue of serving a notice of suspicion and choosing a form of detention is being decided within the framework of criminal proceeding under Part 4 Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Main Department of National Police and Prosecutor’s Office of Kirovohrad region.