The Security Service of Ukraine’s counterintelligence service, together with the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service, has dismantled a large-scale scheme to evade mobilisation in Odesa region. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi
with reference to the SBU press service.
It is noted that the head of the local district department of the SMS and two of his subordinates, as well as an official of the regional division of the Centre for the Provision of Administrative Services, were detained.
“The defendants have set up a corrupt mechanism for receiving money from men of military age who are outside Ukraine and are trying to “remotely” issue passports. Such a “scheme” allowed men liable for military service not to return to Ukraine, not to register and not to update their data in the TCC and JV,” the statement said.
The organisers of the fraud made passports for the evaders with a gross violation of the procedure: without the physical presence of clients in the relevant state institutions. To issue the documents, the SMS officials took their fingerprints and used a remotely sent photo to make the photo.
The officials handed over the passports to the customers through a network of intermediaries. The cost of such services ranged from $500 to $2,500, depending on the urgency.
During 57 searches at the suspects’ places of work and residence, the SBU seized over USD 300,000 and over EUR 60,000, allegedly obtained by criminal means, as well as almost 200 seals and stamps used in the scheme.
According to the investigation, the criminals received orders for the remote execution of more than 150 documents.
Based on the collected evidence, the SBU investigators served a notice of suspicion to three SMS officials (they have now been dismissed), one ASC employee, an intermediary and another participant in the scheme under Art. 28, Part 1 Art. 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces and other military formations, committed by a group of individuals).
The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime. The defendants face up to 8 years in prison.
Documents issued in violation of the law will be cancelled in accordance with the procedure.