Former law enforcement officers in Zaporizhia district, according to the investigation, organized a stable corruption scheme while on duty on the roads. Instead of issuing administrative protocols for traffic violations, they offered to "resolve the issue on the spot" for cash. The case has already been referred to court.
How the scheme worked
Patrol officers (who are no longer active law enforcement officers) stopped drivers who violated traffic laws. Instead of legally issuing a report, they offered to "avoid liability" for money. There was a "tax" for different types of violations. For example, a fixed amount of 10,000 hryvnias was charged for driving while intoxicated. That is, drivers were effectively sold indulgences right on the road.
According to the State Bureau of Investigation, this was not a one-time incident, but a business that was carried out "on stream" during regular patrols on patrol routes in the Zaporizhia district. Investigators documented systematic extortion of money for not being held accountable for drunk driving and other traffic violations.
The State Bureau of Investigation qualifies this as extortion and receiving of illegal benefits by law enforcement officials. The pre-trial investigation has been completed, the indictment has been sent to the court. This means that now the judge, not the investigators, will decide on the punishment.
The indictment is in court. If the court finds him guilty, it could mean not only fines or a ban on working in law enforcement agencies in the future, but also real terms for corruption crimes, since the investigation describes the scheme as systematic and based on abuse of official authority. This is no longer an administrative offense, but a crime.
