Official in Odesa caught taking $3K bribe over land deal

An official of the State Geocadastre was detained in the Odessa region, who allegedly promised to help with the registration of land ownership through deputies of the Odessa City Council.

This was reported by the Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

According to the investigation, the suspect demanded a bribe from a local resident for unhindered registration of ownership of a land plot within the boundaries of Odessa. The official assured that he could influence the city council deputies and ensure a positive decision.

For $3,000, he promised to help obtain permission from the Odessa City Council session. If refused, he threatened to create conditions that would make it impossible to obtain this plot of land legally.

The man was detained while receiving money. The deputy head of one of the departments of the administrative services department was informed of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 369-2

of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for a fine or imprisonment for a term of two to five years. Currently, the suspect has been chosen as a preventive measure in the form of detention with the alternative of posting bail. At the request of the prosecutor, he was removed from his position.

We previously wrote that Kyivzelenbud officials were exposed in a corruption scheme.

We also reported that a doctor from Odessa is suspected of taking a bribe to avoid conscription.