Former MP grabs 15 million Ukrainian hryvnia worth of land in Odesa region

The Security Service of Ukraine has detained a former deputy in Odesa region who misappropriated 15 land plots on the Black Sea coast. This was reported by the press service of the Security Service of Ukraine.

The man was previously a deputy of the Zatoka village council, who organized the theft of 15 land plots totaling 15 million UAH. The scheme could have undermined the fortification of the coastal line in Odesa region. Using forged documents, the man created a mechanism for stealing land. He prepared fake documents regarding the alleged decisions of two village councils to transfer 15 land plots near the maritime waters into private ownership. To forge the documents, the suspect involved a local land surveyor-engineer. Then the fake documents were passed on to controlled state registrars who registered the land under fictitious persons for further sale.

During the searches, the Security Service of Ukraine discovered forged documentation, seals, and computer equipment used to carry out the criminal scheme.

The former deputy has been informed of the suspicions under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 3, Article 28 (committing a crime by a group of persons, a group of persons in conspiracy, an organized group, or a criminal organization);

• Parts 3 and 4, Article 358 (forgery of documents, seals, stamps, and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps);

• Part 4, Article 190 (fraud);

• Part 3, Article 209 (money laundering, legalization of income obtained by criminal means).

Currently, the scheme's organizer is in custody. He and his accomplice face up to 12 years of imprisonment with property confiscation.