OCU cleric’s residence searched over fraud involving vehicles for AFU

“Priest” of the OCU involved in car fraud scheme. Photo: Rivne Vechirnie

Law enforcement officers conducted a search at the residence of Viktor Haiduk, a cleric of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in Kostopil, who was involved in a fraudulent scheme involving the import and sale of vehicles from Europe, according to the Rivne Vechirnie news site.

According to the report, Haiduk issued letters on behalf of his religious organization to customs authorities, falsely claiming that the purchased and imported vehicles were not for sale but were being brought in as humanitarian aid for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

However, instead of sending the vehicles to the military, they were put up for sale.

The Rivne outlet mentions three cars, but Pershyi Kozatskyi reports that there were more than 50. Haiduk’s “business” had allegedly been operating since 2022.

A criminal case has been opened against Haiduk’s accomplice under Part 3 of Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (sale of humanitarian aid goods for profit in significant amounts during martial law). The penalty could range from 5 to 7 years of imprisonment.

Journalists did not report what consequences Haiduk himself may face.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the head of the Ternopil Regional Council, who had vowed to expel the UOC, was detained on bribery charges.

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