As reported by Vladislav Abdullah, Head of the Press Center of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the Kharkiv region, the SBU, with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Kharkiv region, has exposed and stopped the illegal activities of directors of one of the border control agencies, which regularly demanded and received illegal benefits from businesses engaged in international trade.
The SSB found, in particular, that the agency’s director, in collusion with his employees, are demanding 4,500 UAH from private companies to expedite laboratory research and the relevant ruling required for exporting wood.
On March 28 of this year, the SBU, jointly with prosecutors, arrested both public officers in the act during the receipt of a final payment within the context of criminal proceedings initiated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Kharkiv region.
Both were remanded into custody and advised of being suspected of committing an offence against Section 4, Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an offer, promise or obtaining of an illegal benefit by an executive officer, committed in collusion with a group of persons), punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison.
The Administration of the SBU in the Kharkiv Oblast has created a 24/7 hotline to stop crimes associated with corruption. The city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast residents may now report illegal activities carried out by officials on a twenty-four hour basis by calling (057) 700-34-50. The Administration addresses each case in accordance with the applicable legislation.
Translated by Katherina Smirnova, edited by Alya Shandra
Source: http://glavnoe.ua/news/n171471
