Police detained 12 members of a group created by former "overseers" of the Kyiv SIZO
According to the National Police, two of the organisers had previously served prison sentences and had the status of so-called "overseers" in the Kyiv Detention Centre. After their release, they created and led a stable criminal group, which included ten other people. The participants contributed to the spread of criminal influence in the institution and the transfer of prohibited items and means of communication to prisoners, ensuring the functioning of the criminal hierarchy.
After their release, the suspects retained their influence in the detention centre and extorted money from prisoners for "safe stay", threatening them with murder. They also illegally seized a BMW X7 car using violence, committed robberies and looting in Kyiv and the region, organised extortion of funds under the guise of non-existent debts, involved a minor in criminal activity, and illegally acquired and used firearms, in particular an AK 74 assault rifle.
The suspects intimidated the victims with photographs of mutilated bodies from the internet, threatening them with violence. The minor was involved in attacks on men, who were beaten and robbed of their money and valuables.
One of the most high-profile episodes was the kidnapping of a Chinese citizen. Under the guise of investing in business, he was invited to Ukraine, met in Lviv and forcibly taken to a rented house in the Zhytomyr region. There, for three days, the man was held and beaten, with demands for money. Having gained access to his phones and bank accounts, the perpetrators stole 28,000 US dollars.
During a special operation, investigators from the Main Investigation Department and operatives from the Criminal Investigation Department, with the support of units in the Zhytomyr and Khmelnytskyi regions, detained eleven active participants and one of the organisers, who was three kilometres from the border with Moldova and was attempting to cross it. Another organiser has been notified of suspicion in absentia and is planned to be declared wanted.
More than 20 authorised searches were conducted. Two cars, automatic and short-barrelled weapons, more than 90 rounds of ammunition, knives, mobile phones, computer equipment and other material evidence were seized.
Thirteen suspects have been notified of suspicion under Articles 255, 255 1, 187, 186, 189, 289, 263, 146 and 304 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanctions provide for up to 15 years' imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The court has placed one of the suspects under round-the-clock house arrest and the others in custody without bail. The pre-trial investigation is continuing under the procedural supervision of prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
