The Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office has reported suspicions against the leader of a criminal group and two executors involved in fraudulent schemes with loans and real estate. One of the executors is a former bank employee.

A private notary, a former state registrar, and four other straw persons are also involved in the schemes. All of them currently hold the status of suspects.

It has been established that in 2021, the criminal group, led by an experienced organizer, developed a scheme for the illegal acquisition of property. The leader meticulously planned all stages: searching for abandoned property, forging passports by altering photographs and data, and creating fictitious stories for each accomplice in case of law enforcement checks. 

Using forged documents, the group registered ownership rights to four non-existent real estate properties. Through straw persons, the criminals entered into loan agreements with two commercial banks, pledging non-existent property, causing the banks losses exceeding 5.7 million UAH. 

Additionally, in 2021–2023, the leader, together with an accomplice, unlawfully acquired six apartments from a deceased estate worth 6.3 million UAH, registering them to fictitious heirs.

At the request of the prosecutor's office, the leader of the banking and apartment fraudsters has been taken into custody with a bail of 12 million UAH.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings is being conducted by the investigative department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odesa region (parts 3, 4 of Article 190, part 2 of Article 209, part 1 of Article 222, parts 3, 4 of Article 358, part 3 of Article 362 of the Criminal Code).

Operational support is provided by the Criminal Investigation Department in the Odesa region of the National Police of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine in the Odesa region. 

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, 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 court verdict.