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In Chelyabinsk Region, indictment decided upon of former deputy governor found guilty of bribery

The evidence gathered by the Chelyabinsk Regional Office of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and the Investigations Directorate IV of the Main Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation was recognized by the court as sufficient to pass a sentence to Nikolay Sandakov, the former Deputy Governor of Chelyabinsk Region. He was found guilty of committing of offences under Part 6 of Article 290 (bribe-taking); Part 4 of Article 159 (swindling); Part 4 of Article 33; and Part 3 of Article 272 (illegal accessing of computer information) of the Criminal Code of Russia.

The investigation and the court established that, within the period of 2013-2014, Sandakov had taken a bribe in the form of illegal free-of-charge services in the amount of at least 1.96 million roubles on protection of his residential house and installation of video surveillance systems from the head of LLC PSC Piton for assistance in conclusion of a government contract for protection of a high-ranking official of Chelyabinsk Region on the conditions beneficial for LLC PSC Piton. Also, within the period of 2011-2012, the convicted offender, being the Chief Assistant of the Governor of Chelyabinsk Region, by false pretence had stolen money in the amount of 1.5 million roubles from the former city manager of Ozersk Urban District of Chelyabinsk Region and had promised him to take measures aimed at his future appointment as the Governor of Magnitogorsk. Besides, in 2013, Sandakov had ordered from an IT specialist to obtain illegal access to contents of email boxes and private correspondence of a Chelyabinsk political expert, head of one of the administration offices of the Governor of Chelyabinsk Region.

Investigation officers of the Chelyabinsk Regional Directorate of the Investigative Committee and the Investigations Directorate IV of the Main Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee had performed a significant amount of investigative activities, had arranged and carried out over 20 expert examinations, including accounting expertise, estimate examination, psychological and linguistic examination, etc. Over 70 witnesses had been interrogated. Required searches and document seizures had been conducted. The scope of the performed investigative activities had led to a conclusion that the convicted was guilty of committing the offence.

The crimes had been detected by officers of the Regional Directorate of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation that carried out operational support of the probe. Sandakov was released from penalty under Part 4 of Article 33, and Part 3 of Article 272 of the Criminal Code of Russia due to expiry of the period of limitation of criminal prosecution.

Sandakov was sentenced to 5.5 years of imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony, with a fine of 7 million roubles.