The perpetrator was apprehended immediately after attempting to defraud a military conscript. To achieve his aims, he manipulated his victim. The court will decide the fate of the suspect.

Officers from the Odessa Directorate of the National Police's Internal Security Department, in collaboration with investigators from the regional police, uncovered a 33-year-old resident of Odessa engaged in illegal activities. This was not his first encounter with the law.

Despite a previous conviction for fraud and current charges of abuse of power, the suspect chose to continue his criminal activities. He offered a man, who had military deferment documents valid until February 2026, a way to remove him from the military register on health grounds. In return, he demanded $15,000.

To make his offer more convincing, he posed as a lawyer and claimed to have connections with officials from the local Territorial Recruitment Center, with whom he purportedly intended to negotiate.

To ensure the man did not refuse to cooperate, the fraudster resorted to threats: he threatened to cancel the deferment and file the man as wanted. Additionally, to obtain the money quickly, he claimed that the opportunity to finalize the deal was only available now, as the next chance to process the documents would not come for at least six months.

Immediately after receiving the money, officers from the Internal Security Department and investigators from the Odessa police arrested the swindler under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. He has already been charged under Part 3 of Article 369-2 (Abuse of Influence) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a penalty of up to 8 years in prison.

The Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office is overseeing the proceedings.

Source: https://od.npu.gov.ua/news/za-15-000-dolariv-obitsiav-zvilnyty-vid-viiskovoi-sluzhby-v-odesi-natspolitsiia-zatrymaly-psevdoadvokata