Judicial Proceedings Against Organized Crime in Odesa

The Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office has submitted charges to the court against a lawyer and two accomplices of a criminal group, led by a city council deputy, who unlawfully acquired municipal real estate in central Odesa worth over 11 million hryvnias.

They face charges of fraudulently acquiring communal property, legalizing it, falsifying documents, illegal land occupation, and unauthorized construction (Part 3 of Article 28, Parts 3, 4 of Article 358, Part 4 of Article 190, Part 3 of Article 197-1, Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The investigation revealed that the deputy, a member of the municipal property commission, devised a scheme for illegal enrichment by registering ownership rights for properties that belonged directly or indirectly to local communities.

He enlisted the help of a familiar lawyer and trusted associates.

The accomplices searched for municipal premises on the first and second floors in the center of Odesa, rented them through controlled organizations, and then purchased them without competition.

Afterward, they expanded the area of the purchased premises by including attics and basements, registering ownership rights based on falsified documentation under fictitious names.

Some of the illegally acquired commercial properties were converted into residential apartments and sold to unsuspecting buyers.

In this manner, the members of the organized group seized three properties in central Odesa and a plot of land in the Peresyp district, causing the local community losses exceeding 11 million hryvnias.

The accused were exposed in May of this year and remanded in custody with an option for bail.

As part of the criminal proceedings, the prosecutor's office has filed a civil lawsuit to recover damages.

Materials related to the organizing deputy have been separated into a separate proceeding, and he has been put on an international wanted list.

The pre-trial investigation was carried out by detectives of the Odesa Regional Police, with operational support from the SBU in Odesa.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a lawful manner by a court verdict.