Member of national gambling regulator exposed taking USD 90 thousand bribe

On Aug. 20, 2021, NABU and SAPO detained a member of the Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (KRAIL) accepting a USD 90 thousand bribe for facilitating the issue of gambling permits and licenses.

The official was detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, the preliminary qualification of the crime falling under Part 3 Art. 28, Part 4 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

In the summer of 2021, NABU registered several facts of systematic acceptance of undue benefits in particularly large amounts by KRAIL members for issuing gambling permits and licenses. In order to expose the criminal scheme, NABU and SAPO developed and carried out a set of covert investigative (search) activities involving undercover Detectives.

As a result, one of the KRAIL members asked for USD 90 thousand to ensure the issue of permits to use business premises in Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia regions for gambling. In addition, he promised to ensure the issue of gambling licenses.

Eventually, the official was caught red-handed.

Detectives continue with investigative actions to expose other members of the organized criminal group.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered non-guilty in the commission of a crime and cannot be subject to criminal punishment until he or she is found guilty by court.