The SBU Main Office of Internal Security transferred to court the case files against an employee of the SBU Office in Odesa region. The suspect is accused of extortion for non-disclosure of information.

During the pre-trial investigation, it was established that in 2020, the suspect threatened a Ukrainian citizen with the publication of "compromising" audio recordings. The suspect blackmailed the victim through an accomplice. The materials contained conversations with a company’s CEO and head of the security unit regarding the alleged collection of data on a People's Deputy of Ukraine. 

Also, these recordings contained fabricated conversations about the alleged murder of the People's Deputy. For non-disclosure of this information in the media, the organizer demanded USD 50,000. The suspect provided the accomplices with an unregistered mobile phone number for conspiracy and advised them on how to behave if they are summoned to law enforcement agencies. 

The organizer is suspected of extortion by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, as well as the acquisition and storage of firearms without a permit. 

The SBU initiated another criminal proceeding on accomplices, the case is being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation, with the operational support of the SBU Main Office of Internal Security. 

The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the Military and Defense Sphere of the Prosecutor General's Office.

 

Note: 

According to Art. 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt is proved through legal procedure and established by a court verdict of guilty.