The Security Service of Ukraine exposed the director of one of the state-owned enterprises of the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, who was involved in extorting USD 50,000 for the land transactions.

According to preliminary investigation, he demanded money from an Odesa private entrepreneur and "guaranteed" the allocation of two hectares of land and non-residential premises of the former juice shop for spirits production. To carry out the fraud, the official tried to misappropriate a land plot from the state fund near the city.

SBU officers documented the official receiving of an “advance”, which was transferred to his deputy’s bankcard.

During the searches of his residence in Kyiv-Sviatoshynskyi district and the institution, he worked in, law enforcement officers found the evidence of illegal activity, a bankcard to which funds were transferred and other financial and economic documents indicating possible withdrawal of the land plots from the state ownership.

As part of the criminal proceedings, a pre-trial investigation is underway.

The operation was conducted jointly with Pechersk Department of the National Police under the procedural guidance of the Kyiv Local Prosecutor's Office No.6.