SBU employees exposed the head of a police station in Odesa region. The officer systematically extorted money from owners of local retail shops.

Allegedly, the deputy head of prevention sector extorted money for not creating some artificial obstacles in doing business. The “fee” for unimpeded business activity amounted to UAH 2,000 (USD 80) from a retail shop per month.

The officer was detained in Odesa street, right after receiving bribe in amount of UAH 8,000 (USD 320). Earlier, SBU documented fact of receiving the same amount of money for the previous month.

The issue of serving the detainee a notice of suspicion of taking a bribe by an official (P. 3 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) is being decided.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the case and to bring to justice all the persons involved.

The operation was conducted jointly with the State Bureau of Investigations Territorial Administration in Mykolaiv City, under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Odesa region.