A scheme to extort money from sailors was exposed in Ukraine

The criminal group demanded money for obtaining seaman’s qualification documents. Over 100,000 hryvnias were earned on the scheme.

The participants of the scheme demanded money from the sailors for influencing officials of educational and medical institutions, as well as members of the State Qualification Commissions, which issue qualification documents for sailors, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reports.

Persons who intended to obtain a permit to work on sea vessels or to confirm the qualifications of a seafarer were forced to turn to intermediary firms controlled by them.

“It was practically impossible to get these documents without the appropriate payment. At the same time, with a certain amount of money, any person, including those without specialized education and medical examination, was able to obtain seaman’s documents of international standard, a certificate and a medical certificate,” the Prosecutor General’s Office emphasized.

Seafarers will pay over UAH 100,000 for the production of documents from June 2022 to January 2023.

The criminal group included a resident of Odesa, who had already been notified of the suspicion and was given a preventive measure. He was detained while receiving the next tranche of $1,100.

During his arrest, he tried to escape by jumping out of a second-floor window, but was stopped by operatives.