A mayor in the Odesa region has been arrested in connection with a case involving a bribe of $35,000 for permission to fell trees
Investigators from the Investigative Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odesa Region, in collaboration with officers from the Security Service of Ukraine, have exposed the head of one of the town councils in the Izmail District in connection with a case involving the receipt of unlawful benefits.
According to the investigation, the official organised a scheme to receive money from a company that was implementing a project to build a wind farm to provide an alternative power supply to the southern districts of the Odesa region.
A Ukrainian company, together with a British investor, planned to build a wind farm in the region. To implement the project, the company required permission to remove vegetation along the access roads.
Investigators believe that the mayor began creating artificial obstacles during the consideration of the application for the relevant permit. Company representatives were told of the alleged absence of environmental inspectors, the unavailability of relevant staff, and problems with the power supply at the city council.
The case file states that the company donated three generators to the city council as charitable aid to ensure uninterrupted operations, but this did not influence the consideration of the documents.
According to law enforcement officials, during a meeting in a restaurant, the official quoted a sum of 30,000 US dollars for signing the documents and approving the project. Subsequently, the sum rose to 35,000 US dollars.
To maintain secrecy, the money was to be transferred in instalments via a trusted intermediary to a crypto wallet. Law enforcement officers documented the transfer of two instalments totalling 35,000 US dollars.
The investigation established that, following the first instalment of $10,000, the official confirmed receipt of the money and expedited the process of issuing the permit. Once the document was ready, company representatives were given a new code to transfer a further $25,000 via the cryptocurrency scheme.
Following this, the city council issued a permit to remove nearly 300 trees. Subsequently, law enforcement officers detained the mayor in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
The prosecutor of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office informed the official that he was suspected of an offence under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — the receipt by a public official of an unlawful benefit on an especially large scale, combined with extortion.
The penalty under this article provides for up to 12 years’ imprisonment, with confiscation of property and disqualification from holding certain positions.
The issue of imposing a preventive measure and suspending the suspect from office is currently being decided.
The investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are establishing all the circumstances of the case and the possible involvement of other individuals.
