In Kyiv, a lawyer was detained for extorting 5 million dollars

The SBU and SBI detained a lawyer in Kyiv who, according to the investigation, extorted $5 million for assistance in closing a criminal case. He was detained in one of the capital's banks while receiving $3.8 million.

This was reported on September 11 by the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Prosecutor General's Office.

According to the SBU, the lawyer offered a suspect in a criminal case involving fraud, document forgery, and money laundering to use his connections and influence over law enforcement officers to stop his criminal prosecution. The suspect is currently abroad.

Law enforcement officers allege that for $5 million the lawyer promised to secure the closure of the criminal case, and also guaranteed that the businessman would not be held liable further, would not be put on an international wanted list, and information about him would not be passed to Interpol.

Additionally, for a fee, the lawyer allegedly promised to prevent the arrest of the suspect's bank accounts and property.

The lawyer was detained in the premises of a bank in the Pechersk district of Kyiv while receiving $3.8 million, which law enforcement officers call an advance from the total sum.

According to the investigation, the suspect tried to complicate the documentation of the money transfer. For this, he had ordered a similar amount of cash from the bank in advance and planned to replace the banknotes with others immediately after receiving the funds.

The detainee was notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - abuse of influence. If proven guilty, he faces up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.

Law enforcement officers continue investigative actions and are establishing all circumstances of the case, as well as other persons who may be involved.

The investigation is being conducted by the SBU and SBI under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office.

Sources: Security Service of Ukraine, State Bureau of Investigation, Prosecutor General's Office