The SSU exposed another scheme of state land misappropriation on the Black Sea coast. The SSU detained a former deputy of Zatoka village council who organized the theft of 15 land plots worth UAH 15 mln (USD 402,000).

The scheme could have disrupted the fortification of the coastline in Odesa oblast.

According to the investigation, the fraudsters were alienating the land through counterfeiting documents.

The SSU established that an ex-member of a local council prepared false documents about ‘decisions’ of two village councils to transfer 15 land plots near the sea to private ownership.

The suspect involved a local land surveyor into faking the papers.

The offenders then passed the counterfeited documents to controlled state registrars, who registered the land for bogus persons for further sale.

During the searches, the SSU found the counterfeit documents, seals and computer equipment, used in the offence.

So far, four persons involved in the scheme have been notified of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 28.3 (committing a crime by a group of persons, upon prior conspiracy, by an organized group or a criminal organization);
• 358.3, 358.4 (forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps);
• 190.4 (fraud);
• 209.3 (laundering proceeds of crime).

The organizer of the scheme, a former village council member, is in custody. The investigation is ongoing. The offenders are facing up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Measures are taken to return the land to the ownership of the territorial community. Within the SSU’s investigation, the stolen plots were seized and a ban on their alienation was imposed.

The SSU Office in Odesa region carried out the investigation jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.