The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) exposed the leadership of the Zhytomyr customs office to corruption. The organizer of the scheme was its boss.
The SBU writes about this in its Telegram channel.
"The Security Service of Ukraine stopped a large-scale corruption scheme at Zhytomyr Customs. The management of this institution, which systematically "taxed" local businessmen, was involved in the illegal transactions," they noted.
The head of the customs office involved one of the heads of departments and a local broker as an intermediary in the scheme. They demanded bribes from businessmen who imported various goods into Ukraine.
In exchange for bribes, customs officials promised not to interfere with the clearance of cargo, and in case of refusal, threatened with additional checks and delay.
"According to the results of the special operation, the head of the Zhytomyr customs office, the head of the customs value control department, and the relevant customs broker were detained red-handed during the receipt of the next part of the illegal profit," the SBU explained.
They plan to declare the suspicion under part 3 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an illegal benefit by an official).
- In an interview with Forbes, the Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told how the government plans to reform customs in six stages during 2023. According to him, personnel changes will not be effective without structural reform.
- On February 1, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed the leadership of the State Customs Service. The acting head Vyacheslav Demchenko was dismissed from his post. His deputy Oleksandr Shchutskyi was also dismissed. In addition, customs instituted disciplinary proceedings against another MP Ruslan Cherkaskyi. He was suspended from his post for the period of the investigation.