The Security Service of Ukraine has exposed a deputy chair of the Odesa Regional Council who, along with his accomplices, is suspected of extorting USD 50,000 from a local businessman.

According to the investigation, the official promised the businessman that he would receive planning permission to build a cottage community near the port city without any hindrance in return for the bribe.

Should the developer refuse to pay, the official threatened to delay the processing of the documents.

To carry out the scheme, the suspect involved the secretary of a village council in the Odesa district and the head of an engineering company.

The SSU documented the offences committed and detained the suspects after they received the first part of the bribe, USD 10,000.

Documents and other material evidence of the scheme were found during the searches of the perpetrators’ homes.

The deputy chair of the regional council has now been served with a notice of suspicion. Decisions on naming additional suspects are pending.

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