SSU has exposed criminal gang of medical professionals in Cherkasy region involved in "schemes for draft dodgers". PHOTOS
The Security Service has dismantled a large-scale scheme to evade mobilisation in Cherkasy, which had been set up by local medical staff.
For a fee of US$4,000, the operators offered conscripts the chance to undergo fictitious inpatient treatment and obtain medical certificates stating they were in "poor health", reports Censor.NET.
What is known?
According to the case file, the "scheme" was organised by the head of the regional department of a nationwide medical company. He enlisted the help of six other doctors from various specialities and ambulance staff.
It has been established that the fraudsters offered conscripts "inpatient treatment" through a sham hospitalisation following a call to the 103 emergency line.
Thus, the "necessary" ambulance staff would arrive in response to the conscript’s emergency call and, "on paper", arrange for him to be admitted to a medical centre for treatment.
Doctors in the relevant departments then falsified the clients’ test results and examination findings to prepare a set of documents claiming the presence of serious illnesses.
Subsequently, the perpetrators would classify the conscripts as unfit for military service.
SSU officers detained the organiser of the scheme whilst he was receiving part of a bribe from a client.
During searches of the workplaces and homes of all those involved, rough notes, medical documentation and smartphones containing evidence of illegal activity were found.
Investigators from the Security Service have now notified all participants in the scheme of their status as suspects in relation to the crimes committed under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations, committed by a group of persons acting in concert;
- abuse of influence;
- forgery of documents and the use of forged documents, committed by a group of individuals acting in collusion.
Two of the suspects are already in custody. The issue of imposing a preventive measure in the form of detention on the other participants in the scheme is being decided.
The perpetrators face up to 8 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
