NABU, SAPO expose new criminal organization in Odesa

On Dec. 6, 2022, NABU and SAPO served suspicion notices on three members of a criminal organization in Odesa, exposed and detained the day before.

They are:

• a well-known Odesa businessman - co-organizer of the criminal organization — Part 1. Art. 255, Part 3 Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
• a former MP - co-organizer of the criminal organization — Part 1. Art. 255, Part 3 Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
• an accomplice — Part 2 of Art. 255, Part 3 Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As established, in the fall of 2021, after NABU and SAPO exposed a criminal organization involved in the misappropriation of public property in Odesa, another one emerged. It took control of almost all spheres of the city's economic life, including interaction with developers and utility companies, procurement procedures, and so forth. To make everything work smoothly, the suspects systematically bribed the officials and deputies of the local council.

The detectives are establishing other participants in the criminal activity and gathering more evidence.

NABU started investigating the above facts based on their own findings. This is the second criminal organization in Odesa, exposed by NABU and SAPO. The first one was exposed in October 2021 and ceased to exist. The investigation into its activities is at the final stage.

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.