Cyber police operatives have halted the activities of a group that, through bribery and deceit, convinced professional players to lose table tennis matches. Knowing the outcomes in advance, the perpetrators profited from betting.

Investigators from the Obolon Police Department in Kyiv, under the guidance of the local prosecutor's office, dismantled an illegal scheme for profiting from fixed table tennis matches.

To recruit athletes and discuss the details of their schemes, the group members, some of whom are abroad, used popular messaging apps and social networks. They influenced the outcomes of official competitions through bribery, deception, or abuse of trust.

For losing matches, professional competitors were promised between $500 and $2000, depending on their ranking.

Knowing the future results of games, the criminals placed bets personally or through proxies on betting platforms registered in Asia.

Police, with support from a special task force, conducted a search at the residence of one of the most active group members in Odesa, seizing his gadgets.

The suspect has been charged under part 3 of Article 369-3 (Illegal influence on the outcomes of official sports competitions) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and placed under house arrest. The article provides for a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

Investigations are ongoing to identify all members of the criminal group, including those located abroad, with possible additional legal qualifications.