Odesa Medics Suspected of $4,000 Fake Disability Scheme
Three doctors in Odessa are suspected of organizing a scheme to illegally smuggle men who were conscripted into the military abroad. According to investigators, they issued fictitious diagnoses and disabilities to the men for $4,000.
This was reported on August 20 by the press service of the Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office.
According to the investigation, the head of one of the departments of the mental health medical center, the psychiatrist of this department, and a family doctor participated in the scheme.
Law enforcement officials believe that doctors issued fictitious diagnoses and disability documents to the men, which later allowed them to travel abroad. The cost of such "services" was $4,000 per man. Another $1,000–1,500, according to investigators, was to be transferred to members of expert teams for a positive conclusion.
According to the prosecutor's office, the head of the department coordinated the work of the participants in the scheme, organized hospitalizations, examinations, and the preparation of necessary documents.
The family doctor, according to the investigation, looked for men, negotiated with them about the conditions and organized referrals. The psychiatrist drew up fictitious certificates about alleged inpatient treatment and prepared documents for the expert team. One of the documented episodes concerns a 36-year-old man. According to the investigation, he was granted a Group II disability and documents were prepared about three inpatient treatments lasting a total of 150 days. In fact, the man, according to law enforcement officers, did not spend a single day in the hospital.
After the last tranche of $1,500 was transferred in August, law enforcement officers detained all three participants in the scheme. During the investigation, law enforcement officers discovered more than 100 referrals for inpatient treatment for men of military age. They were later diagnosed with group I or II disability. Medical documentation was seized, the prosecutor's office reported.
During a search of the apartment of the head of the department, law enforcement officers seized more than 7,000 dollars. The money was packed in envelopes with dates, phone numbers, and distribution of funds indicated on them. Three doctors were informed of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - organization of illegal smuggling of persons across the state border in a preliminary conspiracy by a group of persons for selfish motives. The sanction of the article provides for seven to nine years of imprisonment, a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to three years, and confiscation of property.
We previously reported that a scheme for providing service in the rear for $5,000 was exposed in the Kyiv region.
