A pseudo-rehabilitation center was exposed in Odesa, where, under the guise of helping people with alcohol and drug addictions, they were actually used as unpaid labor. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General, writes UNN.
Prosecutors from the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office notified the 45-year-old founder of the facility of suspicion. He is accused of recruiting, transporting, and transferring people for the purpose of exploitation, using their vulnerable condition, committed by prior conspiracy and repeatedly
According to the investigation, in February 2023, the man moved to Odesa and established a center that officially provided rehabilitation for people with addictions. In reality, together with his accomplices, he recruited people, arranged their transportation, and transferred them to clients to perform various types of physical labor.
Relatives were convinced that their loved ones would receive qualified assistance. They paid UAH 13,000–15,000 per month for their stay at the center. At the same time, the residents themselves worked for free—in exchange for food and accommodation.
Two instances of exploitation have so far been established. The victims were involved in caring for pensioners, transporting humanitarian aid, earthmoving and construction work, cleaning, and cultivating plots of land. For each day's work by one person, the organizer received UAH 1,000, after which the scheme's participants divided the money among themselves.
The residents were also prohibited from leaving the facility independently and from using telephones. They did not receive the promised treatment.
According to the investigation, the scheme operated for more than two years.
The prosecutor's office petitioned the court to impose pretrial detention on the suspect.
The involvement of other individuals in the operation of the scheme is currently being established.