SBU suspects of systematic bribe-taking the chief of the Preventive Activity Unit of the National Police Office in Luhansk region and two patrol policemen.

Allegedly, the policemen extorted money from local transportation organizations for not creating artificial obstacles to their business and for not giving tickets to the drivers for traffic violations. The “monthly fee” amounted to UAH 1,000 (USD 36) per vehicle. On average, the suspects “earned” almost UAH 200,000 (USD 7,150) every month.

The law enforcement detained two patrol policemen on receiving bribe of UAH 14,000 (USD 500) on a street of Sievierodonetsk City (in accordance with the Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine). Previously, the SBU documented fact of receiving a bribe of UAH 10,000 (USD 360) by the suspects from the same transportation organization.

During 10 searches of the suspects’ residences and offices, the investigators seized almost UAH 500,000 (USD 18,000) of presumably illegal benefit.

The issue of serving the detainees notices 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 persons involved into the illegal activity.

The operation was conducted jointly with the State Bureau of Investigation under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Luhansk region.