Couple in Kyiv Oblast suspected of kidnapping woman and demanding €40,000

Detention of suspects in criminal scheme

Law enforcement officers in Kyiv Oblast have detained a couple suspected of extorting €40,000 from a 24-year-old woman. According to the pre-trial investigation, to force the victim and her close ones to hand over the specified amount, the perpetrators illegally held the woman in one of the residences and applied physical violence against her.

This was reported by the press service of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Extortion scheme and psychological pressure

The incident began at the end of August. The man learned about certain circumstances from the 24-year-old woman's past that she had tried to keep secret. Using this information, he told the victim that she was allegedly involved in criminal activity and could face punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 10 years.

For the alleged "help" in avoiding criminal liability, the man demanded €40,000. He also threatened to restrict the woman's rights and freedoms and to publicise details of her personal life. The victim perceived these threats as real.

Later, the man said that he would allegedly "pay" half of the amount himself, and the woman had to return €20,000 to him as a debt. Under this psychological pressure, the victim turned to her parents with a request to transfer the money.

Involvement of the wife and receipt of part of the sum

The man involved his wife in the implementation of the scheme, who was aware of the extortion. On 31 August, she met with the victim's father, from whom she received €20,000.

However, the receipt of the first part of the funds did not stop the unlawful activity. The man continued to demand another €20,000, forcing the victim to send messages and video appeals to her relatives demanding the transfer of the remaining sum. In total, the couple intended to receive €40,000, which at the official NBU exchange rate on the relevant dates amounts to over 2 million hryvnias.

Illegal detention and beating

As a separate episode, the investigation established that on 31 August, the man took the victim to an apartment in Sofiivska Borshchahivka. There, he did not allow her to freely leave the residence, effectively holding her illegally.

According to the investigation, the man periodically beat the woman with his hands and feet on the head and torso. Law enforcement officers believe that such actions were aimed at forcing the victim's parents to transfer the money.

The couple has been detained, and they have been notified of suspicion in the commission of a crime.