The North-West Transport Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia has launched two probes into a member of the board of directors and the founder of Murmansk Shipping Company PJSC under Part 2 of Article 201 of the Criminal Code of Russia (abuse of authority involving grave consequences).

The investigation established that, in 2014-2019, the direction and the board of Murmansk Shipping Company PJSC had made decisions on illegal withdrawal of funds of the total value exceeding 580 million rubles from the turnover of the Company. The funds had been spent on personal needs including the acquisition of an equity stake of Murmansk Shipping Company itself. The said actions had had a significantly adverse impact including wage arrears of over 100 million rubles and non-payment of over 88 million of taxes. The cases are being investigated by the North-West Transport Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia.

The offences were detected as a result of joint activities of the Murmansk Transport Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the Murmansk Regional Directorate of the Federal Security Service of Russia.

A suspect has been detained. Currently, search activities are carried out in the office of Murmansk Shipping Company PJSC in Moscow and at the place of residence of the suspect. Preventive measures for the suspect are being decided upon. The criminal investigation is ongoing.