The SSU, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Prosecutor General's Office have dismantled another criminal scheme within Ukraine’s judicial system. As a result of comprehensive measures, the head of one of the district courts in Kharkiv region was exposed for extorting a bribe for handing down a target ruling.

In exchange for a financial reward, the official promised to rule in favor of a woman seeking to inherit her deceased partner's estate, despite the fact that they had never been legally married.

To personally secure the case, the head of the court waited until the other judges were on leave so that the automated assignment system would designate him as the single judge to hear the case.

To carry out the scheme, he instructed the claimant in advance on the optimal time to file the lawsuit so that it would be assigned to him through the court's automated case assignment system.

To conceal his illegal activities, the judge used an acquaintance – an investigator from the local police department, through whom he received illicit benefits and communicated with a client.

Earlier this spring, law enforcement officers exposed the intermediary immediately after he had handed the court chief USD 2,000 received from the claimant.

During a search of the court head's office, law enforcement officers found the full amount of the bribe.

Following the step-by-step documentation of the judge's criminal activities, he was served with a notice of suspicion under Article 368.3 of the CCU (accepting the illicit benefit by a public official holding a responsible position).

The suspect faces up to 10 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The process of suspending the judge from office with the subsequent selection of a measure of restraint is underway.

The operation was carried out by SSU officers in Kharkiv region under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office.