Under the procedural guidance of the Kirovohrad Regional Prosecutor's Office, 7 individuals have been notified of suspicion for committing robberies, thefts, and extortion with threats of violence, in conspiracy as a group of individuals under martial law (Part 4 of Article 187, Part 4 of Article 185, Part 4 of Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

It has been established that a local "criminal authority," who was released from places of deprivation of liberty again last summer, involved residents of the region in his criminal activities. The individuals in the case were engaged in armed robberies, extorting non-existent debts, and thefts. Four episodes of their criminal activities have been recorded.

At the end of May this year, the "authority," in conspiracy with one of his accomplices, threatened a serviceman with cold weapons and inflicted a hand injury with traumatic weapons, seizing his phone. After obtaining information regarding the unlocking passwords and mobile banking, the suspects transferred nearly 160,000 hryvnias from the victim's account to their own.

The "authority" also developed a scheme in which he visually selected men, primarily servicemen, with whom the accomplices of the suspect would get acquainted and offer to spend time and drink alcoholic beverages. The victims were intoxicated with antipsychotic drugs and, taking advantage of their helpless state, transferred money from their card accounts to personal accounts using mobile phones.

The victims of the group's criminal schemes were 4 individuals, who suffered losses exceeding 200,000 hryvnias.

During the execution of 12 authorized searches at the residences of the individuals involved in the case, bank cards, cold and traumatic weapons, narcotic substances, and psychotropic drugs were discovered and seized.

Currently, three individuals have been chosen preventive measures in the form of detention, while the situation regarding the others is being resolved. They face up to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Investigative Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the region, with operational support from the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict.