The head of the Ternopil District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support has been informed of suspicion for extorting a bribe from an entrepreneur in exchange for deferment from military service. This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigations.
It is noted that the entrepreneur already had the legal right to receive a deferment since he was pursuing his first higher education in a full-time program at one of the educational institutions in Prykarpattia.
"However, the military enlistment office warned the man, who is involved in agribusiness, that it would issue him a deferment certificate only in exchange for a bribe - vouchers for one thousand liters of diesel fuel. The fuel is valued at approximately $1,500," the SBI reports.
The enlistment officer was apprehended after receiving the fuel vouchers, and in his vehicle, besides the vouchers, $13,000 and 73,000 UAH in cash were discovered and seized.
It is mentioned that law enforcement conducted a search in the official's office, where fuel cards for more than one thousand liters of diesel and gasoline were also seized.
The enlistment officer has been informed of suspicion for receiving illegal benefits (Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The penalty under this article provides for imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Illegal Schemes for Providing Deferments in Ukraine
As reported by UNIAN, in October, the rector and vice-rector of a private university were detained in Transcarpathia for formally enrolling draft evaders in courses to obtain deferments from mobilization. Law enforcement uncovered 225 fake students.
The SBU reported that the university administration enrolled draft evaders in bachelor's programs at both local and foreign institutions without entrance examinations. According to the SBU, following the exposure, the local commission of the Uzhhorod RTC and SP canceled the previously granted deferments for 225 draft evaders who took advantage of the "student scheme".