NABU and SAP, as part of Operation ‘Carthage’, have exposed a criminal organisation whose members are suspected of setting up the systematic provision of unlawful benefits to senior law-enforcement officials in return for the unhindered operation of fraudulent call centres and other illegal businesses.
According to the investigation, the criminal activity involved serving senior officials of the SBU, the National Police, the Office of the Prosecutor General, as well as representatives of the criminal underworld. NABU’s press service reported this on 4 November, announcing further details.
- On the morning of 4 November, NABU reported that a senior SBU official threatened detectives with a weapon and obstructed a search.
‘Carthage’
Operation ‘Carthage’, which NABU and SAP announced on 5 September, focused on exposing a criminal organisation operating within the Office of the Prosecutor General that provided “services” to cover up illegal call centres in exchange for bribes. They are also suspected of laundering illegally acquired assets.
Suspicions were served on the head of a department at the Office of the Prosecutor General, the deputy head of the department, a woman linked to him, and other individuals involved. The charges are under Article 255 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (establishing and leading a criminal organisation, as well as participation in it) and Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (legalisation (laundering) of property).