The Security Service of Ukraine, with the assistance of the Ministry of Justice leadership, has shut down a corruption scheme in the Western Interregional Department of the Ministry, which is the main entity for state legal policy in 7 regions of western Ukraine.

The officials involved in the scheme systematically received bribes for unlawfully closing enforcement proceedings against citizens with debt obligations. All the persons involved have now been dismissed from their positions.

According to the investigation, the former head of the interregional entity of the Ministry of Justice organized the unlawful activity and involved several of his subordinates in it. At the time the SSU uncovered the corruption scheme, he was heading the institution.

In return for bribes, the officials offered debtors to close enforcement proceedings without paying the court-ordered payments.

The organizer engaged an intermediary, an Ivano-Frankivsk resident, to transfer the money.

Subsequently, the officials divided the bribe between themselves, and the enforcement proceedings were closed with the wording ‘due to a full repayment of the debt’.

During the searches at the suspects’ offices, homes and vehicles, the SSU found:

• large amounts of cash, probably obtained by criminal means;
• files of enforcement proceedings, whose participants were involved in the ‘transactions’;
• mobile phones with evidence.

The former head of the Western Interregional Department of the Ministry of Justice was served a notice of suspicion under Article 368.3 of the CCU (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official) and has been dismissed from his position.

The intermediary’s actions were qualified under Articles 27.5., 368.3 of the CCU (aiding and abetting in accepting an offer, promise or obtaining an unlawful benefit by an official).

The court is to decide on a measure of restraint. The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Ivano-Frankivsk region under the procedural supervision of Lviv Region Prosecutor’s Office.