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In Primorsky Territory, a probe launched into former senior administration official

The Primorsky Territorial Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia launched a probe into former First Vice-Governor of Primorsky Territory and a Director General of a commercial organization. Depending on the role of each they are suspected of committing offenses under Paragraph B of Part 4 of Article 174.1 (legalization (laundering) of money acquired by a person as a result of a crime committed by him, committed on an especially large scale), Paragraph B of Part 4 of Article 174 of the Criminal Code of Russia (legalization (laundering) of money acquired by other persons in an illegal way, committed on an especially large scale).

According to investigation, from January 28, 2014 to November 7, 2017 the former First Vice-Governor of Primorsky Territory, despite prohibition established by law, illegally participated in entrepreneurial activities of two commercial organizations. As a result of this participation the suspect received money and used it at his own discretion. At the same time, in order to conceal his criminal proceeds, the suspect transferred to an account of a commercial organization, through persons under his control, funds in the amount of over 143.5 million rubles as an interest-bearing loan. This way he legalized money he acquired as a result of an offense committed by him.

In his turn, during the same period of time, the general director of the previously mentioned commercial organization concluded on the territory of the Primorsky Territory over 50 interest-bearing loan agreements and other agreements in order to give a legitimate form to the ownership, use and disposal of the  indicated funds by the first suspect. This way, the second perpetrator legalized the funds acquired in an illegal way by the first perpetrator.

At present, investigation of the probe continues; investigative activities are being carried out to establish all the circumstances of the incident. Investigators have carried out a search in the commercial organization and seized documents. The suspects have been detained; preventive measures against them are being decided upon. 

The offense was detected by prosecution bodies of the Russian Federation.

In December 2018 the former First Vice-Governor was sentenced for committing of an offense under Article 289 of the Criminal Code of Russia (illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity, that is, participation by an official in the management of an organization carrying out entrepreneurial activity, through a proxy, contrary to the prohibition established by law, if these acts are associated with the patronage of such organization in another form). He was sentenced to a fine of 6 million 300 thousand rubles and banned from holding certain positions for a period of 2 years 10 months.  The accomplice was sentenced to a fine of 1 million 100 thousand rubles.