The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police, with the assistance of the management of the State JSC Automobile Roads of Ukraine, have exposed a bribery scheme involving senior officials of one of the country’s key state-owned enterprises responsible for road maintenance.

The law enforcement agencies have detained the deputy chairman of the board and the head of a department of the state-owned company, who demanded a bribe for facilitating the alienation of state property.

According to the investigation, the case concerns a property complex belonging to the company Automobile Roads of Ukraine in Volyn region, which a local businessman intended to purchase.

For USD 10,000, the officials promised not to create artificial obstacles during the sale and privatisation of the above-mentioned real estate.

The SSU and police investigators documented the suspects’ criminal activity and detained them red-handed when they received one of the bribe payments.

Mobile phones containing evidence of the crime were seized during the search.

The officials have now been served with notices of suspicion under Article 368.3 of the CCU – acceptance of an unlawful benefit by an official.

The suspects face up to 10 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring all those involved to justice.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.