Up to $20,000 for deserting the army – the State Bureau of Investigation exposed a group
фото: ДБР
The State Bureau of Investigation, together with the SBU, the State Border Guard Service of the National Police, and the State Border Guard Service, exposed a criminal group that organized the illegal transportation of conscripts across the state border and facilitated the desertion of military personnel for monetary reward.
This was reported by the territorial department of the State Bureau of Investigation in Melitopol.
The scheme was organized by a law enforcement officer from Zaporizhzhia, his colleague and two civilians were also part of the group. The perpetrators operated throughout Ukraine, helping to escape abroad or leave the military unit for a reward of up to 20 thousand US dollars for one “service”.
“The last operation was an attempt to organize an unauthorized departure from the unit for a soldier from Zaporizhzhia for $13,000. The operation was foiled by law enforcement officers,” the SBI reported.
At the moment, three facts of criminal activity have been documented, two of which are related to desertion. During more than 20 searches in Zaporizhia and Khmelnytskyi, almost 130 thousand dollars, documents, mobile phones and computer equipment were seized.
All four participants have been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal smuggling of persons across the state border) and Part 4 of Article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (assistance in desertion). The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The full range of persons involved is being established.
As previously reported, NABU has announced suspicions against 7 people involved in corruption in the energy sector.