The Security Service of Ukraine thwarted a plot to murder a witness in a case involving an attempt to bribe a colonel with $1 million.

To orchestrate the murder, the criminal found a hitman and was planning to pay him $50,000.

https://zaxid.net/sbu_zapobigla_vbivstvu_svidka_u_spravi_pro_sprobu_dachi_polkovniku_1_mln_dolariv_habarya_n16002022024-12-19 10:35:32

Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine thwarted a contract killing of a witness in a case involving an attempt to bribe a colonel of the special services with 1 million dollars. This was reported on Thursday, December 19, by the SBU press service.

In the spring of 2024, a group of raiders attempted to bribe an SBU colonel by offering him 1 million dollars. The criminals hoped that, in exchange for the money, the officer would assist them in the raider seizure of a mining company in the Vinnytsia region. The officer immediately notified his superiors about the bribery attempt, and the suspects were apprehended.

To evade punishment, the organizer of the criminal group planned to eliminate the main witness in the bribery case. While in pre-trial detention, he sought out a hitman through arrested criminals.

“At the same time, the raider promised to provide the potential executor of the murder with all personal information about the witness, including his address and movement routes. After the crime was committed, the client guaranteed to pay the hitman 50,000 dollars,” the report states.

SBU employees uncovered the criminal's plan and prevented him from organizing the murder of the witness. He has been notified of suspicion regarding the preparation of a contract killing. In the spring, he was also charged with attempting to bribe an official, which carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison. Now, the criminal faces life imprisonment and asset confiscation.

It is worth noting that on May 10, 2024, the SBU detained four offenders in Kyiv who offered 1 million dollars as a bribe to one of the officers of the Main Investigation Department of the SBU for assistance in the raider seizure of a mining company that owns one of the largest quarries in the Vinnytsia region. For this, the colonel was supposed to unjustly register a criminal proceeding against the mining enterprise.