Man detained in Lutsk for extorting $20,000 to secure border guard’s discharge

Law enforcement officers in Lutsk detained a 47-year-old man who was extorting approximately €17,000 from the family of a military border guard in exchange for helping to secure his discharge from military service on health grounds.

This was reported by the Western Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, as relayed by Censor.NET.

According to investigators, the suspect claimed to have the necessary connections among officials and the ability to influence the decision to refer the border guard to a medical facility, followed by processing his discharge on health grounds.

The detention took place at the moment the suspect received the first installment of the agreed sum — 10,000 US dollars. During searches, law enforcement officers seized the money received as unlawful gain, a car, and a mobile phone.

The detainee has been served with a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — abuse of influence combined with extortion of unlawful gain. The question of selecting a preventive measure is being decided.

The operation was carried out by officers of the internal and own security department of the State Border Guard Service jointly with officers of the Department of Internal Security of the National Police in Volyn Oblast, investigators of the Main Directorate of the National Police, and fighters of the Cord special unit, under the procedural supervision of the Lutsk District Prosecutor’s Office.