Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The SBU and the SBI detained a lawyer in Kyiv who demanded 5 million US dollars to “close” a criminal case
The Security Service, together with the State Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Prosecutor General, exposed a lawyer who demanded 5 million US dollars to facilitate the closure of a criminal case.
According to the case materials, the lawyer offered a subject in a case involving fraud, document forgery, and legalization of proceeds to “resolve the matter” with law enforcement.
For 5 million US dollars the lawyer promised the suspect, who is currently abroad, that he would use his own connections and influence to stop the criminal prosecution.
The lawyer also guaranteed that his “client” would not be held accountable, placed on an international wanted list, or have information about him transmitted to Interpol.
In addition, for a fee he promised to prevent the seizure of the subject’s accounts and property.
SBU officers detained the lawyer in the premises of one of the banks in the Pecherskyi district of the capital while he was receiving an “advance” — 3 million 800 thousand US dollars.
To disguise the transfer of funds, the subject preordered an equivalent amount of cash from the financial institution in advance. His plan was that immediately after receiving the money he would swap it for other banknotes and make subsequent documentation of the crime more difficult.
The detainee has been notified of suspicion under part 3 of article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of influence).
The offender faces up to 8 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Investigative actions are ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the offense, as well as other persons who may be involved.
The comprehensive measures were carried out by SBU officers in the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv region together with the SBI under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General.