Six Suspected in Vinnytsia Region of Illegal Immigration Scheme
In Vinnytsia region, law enforcement officers have detained the director of a state institution and five other people suspected of organizing a scheme to illegally legalize foreigners. According to investigators, they were fictitiously employed so that they could obtain temporary residence permits in Ukraine.
This was reported on the website of the National Police Headquarters in the region.
According to the investigation, the participants in the scheme helped foreigners obtain documents for legal residence in Ukraine in exchange for money. To do this, they were fictitiously employed by controlled individual entrepreneurs.
This allowed foreigners to obtain a temporary residence permit in Ukraine for up to two years with the possibility of further extension. The cost of such services, according to law enforcement officials, was 100 thousand hryvnias per person. The operatives established that the number of foreigners who could be legalized under this scheme could reach 200. According to the investigation, the scheme was organized by the head of a state enterprise together with employees of one of the state institutions and three accomplices.
On September 25, law enforcement officers in Vinnytsia and Kyiv conducted more than 30 searches in the offices, residences, and cars of the suspects. During the searches, documents for registration of more than 20 foreigners, computer equipment, money, draft records, and other physical evidence were seized. All six suspects were informed of suspicion. The director of the state institution is charged with Part 3 of Article 332 and Part 2 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Two employees of another state body are charged with Part 3 of Article 368 and Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. One of the accomplices is charged with Part 3 of Article 332 and Part 2 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and two others are charged with Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
These articles provide for a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, as well as a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years with confiscation of property.
The court chose preventive measures for all suspects - detention with the possibility of bail, the police reported.
The operation to expose and document the scheme was carried out by investigators and police operatives in cooperation with SBU officers. Special units of the Criminal Investigation Department and the SBU were also involved in the work. The Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office is responsible for the procedural management.
Recall, a supplier from Volyn is suspected of embezzling UAH 3.9 million.
