BES moves from prosecuting web models to fighting poker clubs
11 February 15:43
Detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security in Lviv region have stopped the illegal activities of a poker club. This was reported by the BES press service, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
BES specialists found that a man set up and controlled the operation of an underground poker club in Lviv region.
“In particular, he provided access to players to participate in gambling, informed them about the place and time of cash poker games, issued playing cards and chips, controlled the games and the work of the croupier, and kept order in the gambling hall. In addition, to conceal the illegal activity, he personally provided access to the premises and kept cash,”
– the BES said in a statement.
Moreover, the organizer received illegal profits for such activities, the bureau said:
“The organizer received illegal profits in the form of the so-called rake fee, i.e., a fee for playing poker depending on the number of hands and the amount from each game table. The funds were then distributed through transactions on the respective bank accounts of the poker participants and the organizer.”
The BES detectives stopped this illegal activity of the poker club and served a notice of suspicion to its organizer. The indictment under Part 1 Art. 203-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal activities in organizing or conducting gambling, lotteries) was sent to court.
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Bureau of Economic Security and its functions
What is the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine?
The Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BES) is a central executive body responsible for combating economic crimes. It was created to eliminate duplication of functions of various law enforcement agencies and ensure a comprehensive approach to combating economic crimes.
When and for what purpose was the BES established?
The BES was officially established on May 12, 2021, following the adoption of the relevant law by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 2020. The main purpose of its activities is to fight economic crime, including the prevention, detection, suppression, investigation and disclosure of criminal offenses in the field of economy.
The creation of the BES was part of the law enforcement reform, which included the liquidation of the tax police and the transfer of functions to fight economic crimes from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police. This was expected to increase the efficiency of investigations, reduce administrative pressure on business, and contribute to the country’s economic development.
What are the main functions of the BES?
The main functions of the BES are as follows: analysis of risks and threats to economic security; investigation of economic crimes; detection and termination of schemes for misappropriation of public funds; monitoring of financial flows and analysis of tax risks; protection of economic interests of the state and promotion of transparency of the business environment.
In the course of exercising its functions, which include protecting the economic security of the state, the BES has recently launched a real campaign of persecution of web models in Ukraine, especially those who choose to pay taxes. Ukrainian business associations claim that this structure is putting pressure on business. Recently, there has been a lot of talk about rebooting the BES, but so far this has not happened.
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