Kyiv: Scheme for selling fake disability for $24,000 exposed

In the capital, law enforcement agencies documented the activities of two men who organised a scheme for the illegal evasion of conscription for military service by men of military age. The organisers offered clients two paid options: processing a deferment for $12,000 or obtaining a fake disability status for $24,000.

Details of the criminal scheme

As reported by the National Police of Ukraine, the accomplices studied potential clients, gathering information about their family status, existing illnesses, and past surgeries. The suspects then offered two solutions. They convinced the buyers that the money transferred would be used as a reward for influential acquaintances.

Medical documents only on paper

To implement the second, more expensive option, the criminals involved contacts at one of Kyiv's medical institutions. According to the investigation, after receiving basic medical data from a man of military age, the conspirators colluded with hospital staff. There, a package of documents with diagnoses necessary to recognise a person as disabled was prepared.

The scheme even included recording surgical operations and inpatient treatment that were not actually performed. This fabricated medical history was intended to serve as grounds for obtaining a deferment from mobilisation and the appointment of pension benefits. In one of the documented cases, a man agreed to such processing despite having no legal grounds for obtaining disabled status.

Criminal liability

The illegal activities were documented by operatives of the Kyiv City Directorate of the Internal Security Department of the National Police, jointly with investigators from the Obolon Police Directorate. Both suspects have been informed of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of influence).

If found guilty, the suspects face punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to eight years with confiscation of property. Procedural supervision is carried out by the Obolon District Prosecutor's Office of the city of Kyiv.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing: investigators are establishing all the circumstances of the criminal proceedings and verifying the possible involvement of other persons in the organisation of the illegal processing of documents.

Previously, law enforcement exposed a similar scheme in Kyiv and Kharkiv, where disability status was processed for $20,000. After conducting 44 searches, at least 30 persons were identified who may have used the services of the criminals, and three probable members of the group have already been informed of suspicion.