Within the efforts to counter threats to state administration, the SSU and the National Police dismantled an extortion ring in the Southern Interregional Directorate of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

One of the deputy heads of this government institution is involved in the organization of the scheme.

The high-ranking official set up a mechanism for receiving bribes from participants of enforcement proceedings for an ‘accelerated’ procedure of lifting the seizure of personal property.

According to the criminal scheme, state bailiffs were to extort money. Then, these bailiffs transferred monthly ‘tributes’ through their supervisors.

The amount of extorted money coming from each subordinate chief of a structural unit was over USD 1,000 per month.

In addition, the organizer took half of the bonus established for his subordinates, which they receive for an enforcement fee collected from the offender.

To conceal the unlawful activity, the official involved his friend as an ‘intermediary’ to pass the money.

The law enforcement detained both offenders in Odesa when they received another bribe.

Earlier, the SSU documented that the official received an illegal benefit of almost UAH 200,000 (USD 4,800).

Criminal proceeding was opened under Article 368.3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The detainees have been notified of suspicion; court is to decide on the measure of restraint.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Odesa Region carried out the operation jointly with the Main Investigation Directorate of the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.