The SBU exposed a unit head of the Main Department of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv region on systematic bribe-taking.

The SBU officers established that the official demanded from UAH 100,000 (USD 3,558) monthly a local businessman for “not noticing” of illegal schemes with excisable goods and not bringing the businessman to criminal responsibility.

The official involved in the illegal activities an acquaintance of him as a mediator.

Within the initiated criminal proceedings, the law enforcement officers documented two episodes of taking a bribe by the official from a certain businessman for a total amount of UAH 170,000 (USD 6,000).

The official received a notice of suspicion of taking a bribe.

Law enforcement officers are conducting searches of the official’s and mediator’s offices and residences.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation, located in Poltava city, under the supervision of Kharkiv Region Prosecutor's Office.