Hunting for money: ex-forestry manager suspected of bribery for $25,000
Environmental prosecutors of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office have served a notice of suspicion to the former head of the Southern Interregional Forestry and Hunting Department of extortion of an undue advantage on a particularly large scale. This is reported by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.
According to the investigation, while in office, the official created conditions and persuaded the head of one of the hunting organisations to transfer USD 25 thousand to him. In exchange for this amount, he promised to assist the organisation in obtaining about 13,000 hectares of hunting grounds in one of the districts of Odesa region.
According to law enforcement officers, if the land was granted, members of the organisation would be able to hunt freely in the area. The official explained the amount of the unlawful benefit by a complicated approval procedure, which allegedly involved several stages, and also stated that part of the funds should be transferred to "acquaintances" in the leadership of the State Forestry Agency and the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine".
The prosecutor's office has now filed a motion with the court to impose a custodial measure of restraint on the suspect. The investigation into the possible involvement of other officials in the scheme is also ongoing.
The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings is carried out by investigators of the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation in Mykolaiv, with operational support provided by the Second Operational Department of the same department.
According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by law and confirmed by a court verdict.
