Prosecutor’s Office in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast prods two dilatory police investigations

Subject of complaint: National Police in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
Complaint in brief: In July 2016, a private entrepreneur filed a complaint with the BOC regarding the ineffectiveness of Police in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast during the pre-trial investigation of the illegal occupation of the Complainant’s commercial premises by other private entrepreneurs, used for commercial activity, by other private entrepreneurs. Moreover, these individuals had stolen some children’s beds that were on the premises. The Police failed to take all necessary steps to carry out a proper pre-trial investigation.
The Complainant also noted that a criminal case that he regarded as baseless had been launched against him by the Police to put pressure on his business. This investigation was also being delayed by the Police investigator.
Action taken: After looking into the case, the BOC investigator was able to confirm that the pre-trial investigations were, indeed, being delayed. The BOC investigator then sent requests to the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Police, asking that they take the necessary steps to speed up the investigations. The Prosecutor’s Office informed the Council that in both cases the investigators in charge had been provided with detailed instructions for running their investigations, which they were then acting upon. The Police responded that the investigator in charge had sent a request to the police of Lviv, and Terebovlya, Ternopil Oblast, to provide copies of the documents of the proceedings initiated on the trafficking of beds stolen from the Complainant’s premises. Also, the BOC investigator discussed progress of both investigations at the expert group of the National Police.
Result achieved: After the BOC’s intervention, the pre-trial investigations of both of the Complainant’s cases were renewed. For the Complainant the necessary result was achieved and the case was closed.