A deputy mayor - head of housing and communal services department in one of the communities in Odesa oblast was exposed on bribery.

For a bribe, the official promised contractors that they would ‘win’ a construction tender funded by the town budget.

The size of a kickback was 10% of the total contract value.

In case of refusal to pay, the deputy mayor threatened to fabricate obstacles for the businessmen during review and approval of tender documents.

The SSU documented the fact that the perpetrator extorted money for a ‘permission’ to carry out repairs in the premises of the town council’s mobilization department.

The official was detained after receiving the full amount of the bribe.

He has now been 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).

The investigation is ongoing. The suspect faces up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Odesa region jointly with the National Police investigators under the supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.