Undeclared Mercedes and Gucci suit: Chernivtsi patrol officers stop drunk Odesa police colonel at the wheel

Head of the Strategic Investigations Department in Odesa Oblast Viacheslav Yeftenii tried to "hush up" the case with the patrol officers.

Chernivtsi patrol officers stopped Viacheslav Yeftenii, head of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police in Odesa Oblast, for driving while intoxicated. This was reported by ZAXID.NET.

The incident took place at 1:30 a.m. on January 8, but it became known only on January 11, after the publication of a video of the patrol officers' conversation with the drunk Viacheslav Yeftenii. 

The press service of the Chernivtsi police confirmed that the incident did happen, adding that the intoxicated law enforcement officer was stopped for driving through a prohibited sign. 

Already during the conversation with the driver, it turned out that he had been driving a Mercedes G 63 AMG while intoxicated.

The recording shows that after the off-road Mercedes G 63 AMG was stopped, the driver tries to persuade the officers to let him go, naming his post and rank. 

He says that the colonel is also acquainted with the leadership of law enforcement agencies. In particular, he mentioned the surname "Zhukov" and said he counts on the loyalty of the officers, since he is a colleague.

He also asked them not to "process" him and said that he himself had let people go in similar situations so they would not "sit" and urged the patrol officers to turn off the cameras so they could "talk". 

According to the law enforcement officer, his sober wife was in the car with him. When asked why he did not put her behind the wheel, Yeftenii answered that she "does not know the area".

In connection with this incident, the police drew up reports under Part 1 of Article 122 "Driving through a prohibited sign" and Part 1 of Article 130 "Driving a vehicle while under the influence" of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.

According to the Odesa outlet Dumskaya, Viacheslav Yeftenii was driving a new 2020 Mercedes G 63 AMG worth about €200,000 that is not listed in his declaration. 

Also, according to IA ZIDO, the law enforcement officer was dressed in a Gucci suit, the total cost of which, including the jacket and joggers, is €2,200.

The National Police of Odesa said that Yeftenii is currently on parental leave.

Previously, Viacheslav Yeftenii was deputy head of the Volyn Department for Combating Organized Crime, and later headed the Zhytomyr and Rivne departments for combating organized crime. 

In 2016 he did not pass recertification: first the law enforcement officer went on sick leave, later the attestation commission recommended dismissing him, but he appealed this decision in court and returned to service.