The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have uncovered a raider scheme in Odesa involving the seizure of private property worth nearly UAH 18 million (USD 400,000).

As a result of a comprehensive operation in the port city, the organiser of the scheme – a lawyer – was arrested, and three of his accomplices – a co-organiser, a notary and a state registrar – were served with notices of suspicion.

The investigation revealed that they had carried out a raider takeover of three flats in the city centre, two cottages, a parking space and two plots of land.

To take possession of other people’s assets, the fraudsters first produced forged title documents, which they registered in the names of front persons.

A private notary would then unlawfully certify the forged signatures on the documents, whilst the state registrar would make unauthorised amendments to the relevant registers.

In this way, the perpetrators deprived the lawful owner of their title, and the seized property was divided and re-registered in the names of companies under the criminals’ control for subsequent legalisation.

During searches of the suspects’ premises, draft documentation and computer equipment containing evidence of the scheme, along with cash likely obtained by criminal means, were seized.

The organiser of the scheme and his accomplices have now been served with notices of suspicion, in relation to the offences committed, under the Articles of the CCU:

• 190.4 (fraud, committed on an especially large scale);
• 27.5, 209.3 (aiding and abetting money laundering);
• 27.5, 358.3 (aiding and abetting the forgery of official documents);
• 27.5, 362.3 (aiding and abetting the unauthorised alteration of information processed in automated systems, committed by a person authorised to access it);
• 366.2 (forgery in office).

The suspects face up to 12 years’ imprisonment and confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office.