In the Kyiv region, prosecutors demanded $50,000 from a businessman: what is known about the case
27 March 06:47
In the Kyiv region, law enforcement officials have exposed two employees of the Brovary District Prosecutor’s Office who are suspected of extorting $50,000 from a businessman. According to investigators, the officials attempted to obtain the money in exchange for allegedly “resolving an issue” regarding land plots.
This was reported by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
What are the prosecutors suspected of?
According to the General Inspectorate of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the prosecutors organized a scheme to pressure businesses.
According to the investigation, they convinced the entrepreneur that his land plots could be seized, even though there were no legal grounds for doing so.
In exchange for “help” in resolving this issue, the officials demanded $50,000.
As the Prosecutor General noted, law enforcement officials were effectively trying to profit from the entrepreneur’s fear of potential legal problems.
What the Prosecutor General said
Ruslan Kravchenko stated that the law enforcement system will not cover for its employees in such cases.
In his words:
“We will not cover for our own.”
He also emphasized that the response to such crimes will be firm regardless of the positions held by those involved.
The Prosecutor General urged business representatives to report instances of pressure through a special platform.
“The response to crossing this red line will be immediate and severe,” he noted.
How the scheme worked
According to preliminary information, prosecutors used their official positions to create artificial pressure.
The scheme involved:
- threatening to seize property;
- using procedural powers as a tool for pressure;
- demanding money to “resolve the issue”;
- manipulating legal risks.
Law enforcement officials emphasize that there were no legal grounds for restricting the entrepreneur’s activities.
What punishment is in store
If the suspects are found guilty in court, they may face criminal liability for corruption offenses.
In particular, Ukrainian law provides for the following penalties for extorting an unlawful benefit:
- imprisonment;
- confiscation of property;
- a ban on holding public office.
The final classification of the crime will be determined by the investigation.
