Ternopil resident charged over $15,000 influence-peddling scheme
A man from the Ternopil region was reported on suspicion of accepting a bribe and promising to influence judges' decisions. For $15,000, he promised to help the perpetrator of a traffic accident avoid punishment.
This was reported on the Facebook page of the Ternopil Regional Prosecutor's Office.
They noted that the suspect offered help to the father of the person responsible for the accident.
He assured the man that he could influence the court and police officials to have his son sentenced to a non-custodial sentence. He demanded that he be given $15,000.
The website of the regional National Police reported that the accident occurred in early July. The 26-year-old driver of a Range Rover lost control, drove into a ditch and overturned.
Two passengers of the car were injured in this traffic accident. Police investigators have initiated criminal proceedings under Article 286-1 (violation of road traffic safety rules or transport operation by persons driving vehicles while intoxicated) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
During a meeting with the father of the person responsible for the accident, the suspect received 15 thousand US dollars. Law enforcement officers detained the man after receiving a bribe. The issue of choosing a preventive measure in the form of detention is being decided.
The National Police said that in addition to the $15,000 received, another $120,000 was seized from the suspect's car. The origin of this money is being established. The man faces up to eight years in prison for his actions.
According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until his guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict of guilty.
We previously reported that a desertion scheme through bribing a commander was exposed in the Cherkasy region.
