Ex-Heads of the National Police of Odesa Oblast exposed on corruption

On July 25, 2019, the Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) jointly with the Internal Control Unit of the National Police of Ukraine under the procedural guidance of the prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) exposed four persons involved in misappropriation of a large batch of tobacco products, earlier seized from illegal turnover.

Among the suspects, there are:

• ex-Head of the National Police of Ukraine in Odesa Oblast (from September 2016 to April 2019);
• ex-First Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine in Odesa Oblast;
• two Heads of private companies.

The ex-officials were given notices of suspicion of committing a crime under Part 5 Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“Misappropriation, embezzlement or conversion of property by abuse of official position”). Two persons, including Ex-Heads of the National Police of Ukraine in Odesa Oblast, detained in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation revealed that two Heads of private companies upon prior conspiracy with the ex-Heads of the National Police of Ukraine in Odesa Oblast in 2017 illegally embezzled a large batch of counterfeit tobacco products.

These goods were evidence in criminal proceeding, investigated by the National Police of Ukraine in Odesa Oblast. The market value of such a party of these goods in the volume of seven sea containers on the “kerbstone market” can reach 50 million UAH.

Pre-trial investigation as of the abovementioned facts is carried out from summer 2018 by the NABU Detectives. The pre-court investigation is in progress. Other persons allegedly involved in the commission of a crime are being established. 

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