Nearly 4,000 euros for “silence”: a company commander and a brigade sergeant major in Dnipropetrovsk region suspected of extortion

The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Defense of the Eastern Region, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and the National Police have announced suspicion charges against a company commander and a sergeant major of one of the brigades in Dnipropetrovsk region for extorting money from a subordinate serviceman.

Investigators documented the extortion: the suspects demanded 200,000 hryvnias from the subordinate in exchange for not reporting to the command his consumption of alcoholic beverages during service, not initiating an internal investigation, and not subjecting the soldier to disciplinary action.

The suspects subsequently reduced the amount to 100,000 hryvnias and, for the sake of secrecy, demanded that the money be transferred through a postal carrier on the territory of Dnipropetrovsk region.

On May 23, after a postal package containing simulated funds in the amount of 100,000 hryvnias was received, the suspects were detained. During searches, law enforcement officers seized the bribe, mobile phones, bank cards, draft notes, and cash totaling more than 1.2 million hryvnias.

The suspects’ actions have been classified under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — receipt by an official of unlawful benefit for refraining from actions using their official position in the interests of the person providing the benefit, by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, combined with extortion.

The court remanded the suspects in custody with the option of posting bail in the amount of 266,600 hryvnias. Prosecutors also filed a motion to seize their property. According to the prosecutor’s office, bail for the suspects has already been posted.

In addition, the possible involvement of other officials of the military unit in the unlawful activity is being investigated.