Senior Ukrainian law enforcement officials charged in sprawling scam call center case

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies have charged five people over an alleged criminal group accused of protecting scam call centres and engaging in drug trafficking and currency counterfeiting. The case implicates senior security service and police officials, raising questions about alleged corruption and criminal activity within law enforcement.

Investigators say the group also carried out torture for hire, kidnappings and extortion. A court ordered police official Volodymyr Tsenov held for two months, with bail set at Hr 15 million ($330,000), while suspect Vitalii Rybalka was detained without bail. The case forms part of a wider inquiry into protection for scam call centres, whose earlier revelations led to the departure of then-Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko; searches of security service premises were also reportedly obstructed.