The head of the State Tax Service unit in the Sumy region was arrested with bail exceeding 192 thousand hryvnias

The head of the State Tax Service unit in the Sumy region was arrested with bail exceeding 192 thousand hryvnias

The court imposed a preventive measure on one of the heads of a unit of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in Sumy Region, who is suspected of extorting an improper benefit from an entrepreneur. The official was taken into custody with the right to post bail.

The State Bureau of Investigations reported this.

By court decision, the main suspect in the case was taken into custody with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 192,540 hryvnias. His accomplice was placed under night house arrest. Both suspects were also suspended from their positions.

According to the investigation, during a tax audit, the officials informed the owner of a small grocery store that violations found could result in a fine of 2.5 million hryvnias. At the same time, they offered to reduce it to 70,000 hryvnias, demanding 80,000 hryvnias for such a “service.”

Law enforcement documented the transfer of funds in two stages. During the receipt of the second part of the bribe, SBI officers detained both suspects.

During searches of the tax office premises, the suspects’ residences, and their vehicles, money, documents, and other physical evidence were seized.

Both officials were notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — receipt of an improper benefit by officials holding a responsible position, by prior conspiracy as a group of persons.