Two tax officials in Sumy region exposed for demanding a bribe from an entrepreneur for “loyalty” during an inspection — Prosecutor General
Kyiv • UNN
Employees of the State Tax Service in Sumy region demanded 80,000 hryvnias for leniency during an inspection. They were detained after the second part of the money was handed over.
Two employees of the Main Department of the State Tax Service in Sumy region have been exposed for allegedly demanding UAH 80,000 from an entrepreneur for "loyalty" during an inspection, according to the investigation. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported this, UNN reports.
The Prosecutor's Office, together with the Department for the Prevention and Detection of Corruption of the State Tax Service, exposed two employees of the Main Department of the State Tax Service in Sumy region who, according to the investigation, demanded UAH 80,000 in unlawful benefits from an entrepreneur
According to him, the deputy head of the department, who heads the division for scheduled and unscheduled inspections of individual taxation, and his deputy promised not to impose penalties during an inspection related to the termination of the individual entrepreneur's activities.
The transfer of the funds in two installments was documented. After receiving the second part, the officials were detained pursuant to Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
There are no "small" amounts in corruption. For a particular entrepreneur, this is extorting money for something an official is obliged to do exclusively in accordance with the law. For the state, it is an abuse of authority and a blow to trust in the tax system. A position cannot be a way to make money off those who work, pay taxes, and develop their businesses
The State Bureau of Investigation is conducting the pre-trial investigation. A notice of suspicion for the detainees and a motion to the court to select preventive measures for them are being prepared.
I thank my colleagues at the State Tax Service for the coordination and promptness of their actions. We continue working