$20 thousand for transfer from the front line to the rear: four people detained in Dnipropetrovsk region

In Dnipropetrovsk region, four people were detained on suspicion of extorting $20,000 for facilitating the transfer of a serviceman from the front line to a rear unit. Among the suspects are a colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two other military personnel. All four were taken into custody with the possibility of bail.

This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Dnipro Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Eastern Region.

According to the investigation, initially one of the servicemen offered a friend of a soldier who was performing combat tasks on the front line to assist in his transfer to a rear military unit in Dnipro.

Initially, for influencing officials on whom the relevant personnel decision depended, they allegedly demanded $16,000. At the end of June, the amount was increased to $20,000, after which the first $10,000 was handed over.

After the first payment, the promised transfer did not occur

According to the SBI, after receiving half of the amount, the serviceman was not transferred to the rear unit. He was only stopped from being involved in combat exits and was sent to a command and observation post.

When the soldier began demanding the fulfillment of the agreements, according to the investigation, the suspects began to put pressure on him. The SBI reports threats to return him to the first line, and the prosecutor's office specifies that he was also threatened with possible transfer to an assault unit if he refused to pay the remaining money.

Subsequently, according to the prosecutor's office, two more persons joined the scheme - a civilian accomplice and a colonel, head of the civil-military cooperation department of the headquarters of one of the army corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The SBI identifies the civilian suspect as a retired military man.

The remaining money was required to be transferred in cryptocurrency

At the end of August, the civilian accomplice provided the details of an electronic wallet for receiving the second part of the unlawful benefit.

First, $100 was transferred to the wallet. After confirmation of the transaction, the suspect, according to the prosecutor's office, demanded to transfer the remaining $9,900.

After the money was received, SBI and SBU officers detained all four suspects.

During searches, law enforcement officers seized part of the previously transferred funds, mobile phones, and rough notes. The SBI also reports the discovery of several forged passports of Ukrainian citizens.

Suspects face up to eight years in prison

All four were notified of suspicion of abuse of influence, combined with extortion of unlawful benefit and committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons - under Part 2 of Art. 28 and Part 3 of Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The sanction of the article provides for up to eight years of imprisonment.

The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention with the right to bail for all suspects. For the colonel and one of the servicemen, it was set at UAH 898 thousand for each, for the other serviceman and the civilian suspect - UAH 499 thousand each.

The investigation is also checking the possible involvement of other persons in the scheme. The pre-trial investigation is conducted by the territorial department of the SBI in Poltava with operational support of the SBU in Dnipropetrovsk region.

Based on materials: SBI, Dnipro Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Eastern Region