In Odesa region a judge has been hearing a minor bribery case for 2 years

The Ovidiopol District Court (Judge Andriy Bocharov) has been considering a straightforward bribery case for 2 years involving a man caught with money in his hands in his office — there has been almost no movement in the case, and the defendant even managed to “work” another year in his position, having connections that would allow him to leave the country.

This was reported by the editorial staff of 368.media

Senior specialist of the Ovidiopol department of the State Migration Service in Odesa region, Syvokon Anatoliy Ivanovych, on 30 January 2024 received 2,8 thousand dollars for assistance in arranging citizenship confirmation for five children whose parents are foreign citizens, after which he was immediately detained.

At first he valued his assistance (or rather the non-creation of artificial obstacles) somewhat more modestly — “only” 1,5 thousand dollars — and then, gradually, raised the bribe amount to the stated sum.

The case began with high activity: the State Bureau of Investigation promptly filed a motion for the temporary removal of the defendant from his position and for the seizure of his movable and immovable property. While the case was before Judge Kotelevsky of the Kyiv District Court of Odesa, Syvokon was temporarily removed from his position (until 28 May 2024), placed in custody with bail of 242 thousand hryvnias, which was posted. A seizure was imposed on movable property — a Ford Focus with a trailer — and on immovable property.

But after that the case number changed (from 947/4321/24 to 509/3135/24), as did the judge and the court. For the past two years the case has been heard by Judge A. Bocharov of the Ovidiopol District Court, and the process has sharply quieted down: for criminal proceeding No. 62023150020001015 there have been 18 hearings, which resulted in only 2 rulings to extend the hearings.

What is interesting here is not only the change in the pace of proceedings in a simple court case against a corrupt official.

Syvokon, who was caught “red-handed” in his own office, continued to work, receiving a salary from the state.

Syvokon’s wife, Lyudmyla Kuznetsova, received a salary from the Odesa District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TCC). In addition, the wife’s workplace hints at fairly broad possibilities for, shall we say, Syvokon’s “relocation,” which are not available to the general public.