SBI exposes law enforcement officer smuggling draft dodgers to Moldova border
Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service, has detained a law enforcement officer from Zaporizhzhia who was transporting servicemen who had voluntarily left their units and draft evaders to the border with Moldova.
"The law enforcement officer posted ads on social networks about "escort services" using a fake account, but indicated his real phone number. In communication with potential clients, he assured them that thanks to his service ID, he would transport them by car through checkpoints without hindrance. The "clients" had to decide on their own how to cross the state border," the agency's website said on Friday.
The cost of such services ranged from $2,000 to $6,000, depending on the number of checkpoints.
In particular, in September, he arranged for the transportation of a serviceman who had voluntarily left his unit in Nikopol to the border. To avoid suspicion, the law enforcement officer even issued a sick leave. They left Nikopol for Odesa region together on September 10.
After receiving the full amount, the law enforcement officer was detained "red-handed" a few kilometers from the state border. For this trip, he received more than $2,200.
The suspect was informed of suspicion of facilitating the illegal smuggling of people across the state border of Ukraine by providing means and removing obstacles, committed by an official using his official position for selfish motives (Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He faces up to 9 years in prison.
Currently, the investigation is identifying all persons who could have used the "services" of the suspect.