SSU and National Police detain racketeer who “extorted” money from wife of missing AFU soldier and threatened to kill their child
The SSU and the National Police investigators dismantled another scheme of money extortion from relatives of Ukrainian prisoners and missing persons.
As a result of complex measures, the SSU detained a 28-year-old racketeer from Cherkasy region who promised to return Ukrainian soldiers from captivity for a financial reward.
It was documented how the suspect scammed and then threatened to extort UAH 200 thousand from the Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman's wife, who went missing during the hostilities in Pokrovsk sector.
According to the investigation, the offender first made up a story that the victim's husband was allegedly in captivity and that money was needed to bring him home.
Being in a vulnerable state, the woman transferred over UAH 160 thousand to the young man in several tranches.
When she started doubting about further transfers, the offender began threatening her.
In particular, the racketeer said that he could kill the woman, her husband and their child.
Law enforcement officers detained the offender “red-handed” when he was receiving another UAH 30 thousand from the affected family to his bank account.
According to the investigation, the offender received basic information about the families of captured or missing servicemen on thematic Internet forums where people wrote about their relatives.
During the searches, the detainee's mobile phones with evidence of criminal actions were seized, as well as bank cards where money from the victims was transferred.
He has been served a notice of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (extortion on a large scale committed under martial law).
The offender faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Please note that the issue of releasing prisoners of war is exclusively within the competence of the state authorities!
If you or your friends are in a situation when unknown people demand money for the “release” of a relative from captivity, immediately contact the Joint Centre for the Search and Release of Prisoners of War:
or send an e-mail to: united.centre.ssu@gmail.com
The operation was conducted by the SSU Office in Cherkasy region jointly with the National Police under the supervision of the Zvenyhorodka District Prosecutor's Office.
