In Kyiv, the Security Service, the National Police, and the Prosecutor General’s Office have uncovered a lawyer who extorted money from local entrepreneurs.

It has been documented that the perpetrator demanded USD 100,000 from the management of a Kyiv-based company. For this amount, he offered to ‘resolve’ tax issues that, according to him, existed in the company’s accounting department.

The lawyer claimed to the businessmen that he had ‘insider information from regulatory authorities’ and that if the entrepreneurs refused to pay him, they would have to pay a fine of almost UAH 1 billion to the state budget.

He repeatedly pressured his victims using manipulation and psychological tactics.

When the company officials agreed to give him the cash, he involved his acquaintance as an intermediary to hand over the money.

The law enforcement agencies documented the crime and conducted searches at the suspects’ homes.

Based on the evidence, the lawyer and his accomplice have been notified of suspicion under Articles 190.5 and 27.5 of the CCU (fraud, aiding and abetting fraud committed on a particularly large scale under martial law).

The decision on a measure of restraint and additional qualification of their criminal actions is pending.

The operational and investigative actions were carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.