Charged of fraud in absentia Gitelson is being extradited to Russia for investigation. He was arrested this April by the Austrian police on charges of stealing almost 2 billion rubles from the budget of Leningrad Region.
Saint-Petersburg Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee continues investigating a criminal case against former chairman of the board of directors of OAO Bank VEFK (OJSC) and (OAO) INKASBANK (OJSC) Alexander Gitelson, who is charged in absentia of the crime under part 4 of article 159 of the RF Penal Code (fraud). As Gitelson was hiding abroad, he was internationally wanted and the court ruled to remand him in custody.
According to investigators, from May 2006 to May 2007 Gitelson and former chairman of the board of directors of INKASBANK Tatyana Lebedeva stole 1 billion 892 million rubles deposited by the Finance Committee of Leningrad Region in INKASBANK which was a part of the VEFK group. The money was stolen both from the safe vaults and through transfers by Bank VEFK to the accounts of the legal persons controlled by the accused, including outside the Russian Federation. The transactions withdrawing the money involved such lending agencies as bank of Banya Luka (Republic of Serbia), OAO Inkasbank, OAO Bank VEFK. Later the money was used to by real estates, including abroad.
Earlier, thanks to hard work done by the investigators, the criminal case against Gitelson’s accomplice Lebedeva has been forwarded to court. There was enough evidence to make her conclude a deal with the investigators. She told about the circumstances of the crime and testified against the ex-owner of VEFK. The court found her guilty and gave a suspended sentence of 4 years in prison and a fine of 300 thousand rubles.
On arrival in Moscow on 11 December 2013, Gitelson will be transported in Saint-Petersburg for investigation and will be put in custody. Investigation is ongoing.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
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