Artem Milevskyi detained in connection with match-fixing case in esports

Artem Milevskyi detained in connection with match-fixing case in esports

Cyberpolice detained a group of people involved in organizing fixed matches. According to media reports, one of the suspects is former Dynamo footballer Artem Milevskyi.

According to law enforcement agencies, the criminal organization held fixed matches in cybersport, table tennis, football, and basketball.

The Cyberpolice Department reports that the criminals involved famous athletes to increase their influence in the cybersport environment and to boost the online viewership. These "ordered" matches were watched by tens of thousands of people simultaneously.

According to law enforcement, members of the group, which included former world-class athletes, used their professional connections to organize fixed matches between players from Australia, Europe, and Ukraine.

The perpetrators used bribery, intimidation, and coercion to pressure match participants. Sometimes they employed individuals with athletic appearances, who had previous convictions, to threaten athletes, including the use of weapons. About 10 affected players have been identified.

Organizers, knowing the match results in advance, placed bets in bookmakers in various countries, including Asia, Europe, Australia, and America. The money obtained was laundered through the purchase of luxury cars, real estate, and other assets using cryptocurrency wallets.

Law enforcement agencies conducted 45 searches across Ukraine. One of the organizers has already been charged with illegally influencing the outcome of official sports competitions. The maximum penalty for these charges is up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.