NABU completes investigation into extortion by SSU, NPU officers

NABU and SAPO have completed the investigation of Security Service and National Police officials in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. On June 29, 2022, the case file was disclosed to the defense. The actions of the officials fall under part 2 Art. 190, Part 4 Art. 27, Part 2 Art. 15, Part 3 Art. 369, Part 3 Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, a senior operations officer of the Security Service in Ivano-Frankivsk region and one of the officers of the investigative department of the National Police demanded and received an undue benefit from a person charged with illegal storage and sale of drugs. In particular, they promised to influence judges to get his restraint measure changed, asking USD 9,000. Another proposal concerned a possible change of investigative jurisdiction in the case and was "estimated" at USD 15,000. They were finally caught red-handed taking USD 10,000.

NABU and SAPO established that in order to artificially create legal grounds for the change of the restraint measure, one of the suspects had to plant the psychotropic substance, amphetamine, in the house of his accomplice, which would have resulted in his illegal bringing to criminal responsibility.

In April 2022, NABU and SAPO caught the officials red-handed and notified them of suspicion. The operation was carried out with the assistance of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Police of Ukraine.