News

In Moscow members of criminal group found guilty of grand theft

A court has recognized the evidence gathered by the Main Investigation Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee sufficient to convict three members of an organized group Dmitry Pivovarov, Yekaterina Finapetova and Ruslan Korigov. They were found guilty of a crime under part 4 of article 158 of the RF Penal Code (stealing on an especially large scale committed by an organized group).

The court and investigators found that Pivovarov, Finapetova and Korigov were members to a criminal group, who offered their victims for large amount of money to tackle the matter of being appointed to top positions in authorities or concluding a profitable contract. To do that the accused persuaded their victims to put the money in bank safes allegedly to confirm their solvency. But in fact members of the group used forged documents to steal the money from depositaries. The stolen sum made up from 4 to 20 million euros. To conceal the stealing they were supposed to call the victims outside the Russian Federation and kill them. According to the roles attached Mikhail Koryak under a fake name offered victims to take responsible posts, Dmitry Pivovarov in the guise of a high-ranking official interviewed them making them believe that they could have taken the position. Another member of the group Ruslan Korigov supervised the process of putting the money in depositaries and then organized the theft. Korigov’s aide – Yekaterina Finapetova controlled the presence of money in the safes in person. Valid Lurakhmayev and Sultan Sigauri organized murders of the victims.

The criminal case against Pivovarov, Finapetova and Korigovhas been severed in a separate lawsuit. According to investigators, in 2009 Saratov businessman Mikhail Lanin offered a deputy of Saratov Duma to help in being appointed governor of the Saratov Region and organized a meeting with the accused. Pivovarov interviewed the deputy. Korigov and other accomplices persuaded the victim to put over 2 million euros and 38.5 million rubles in a bank in Moscow. Then Korigov organized the theft.

The court has sentenced Pivovarov to 4 years in prison, Finapetova to 2 years in prison, and Korigov to 6 years in prison to be served in a minimum-security penal colony.

Earlier the criminal case against Sultan Sigauri has been sent to court. Koryak and Lurakhmayev are internationally wanted. The criminal investigation against other members of the criminal group is ongoing.

Head of Media Relations                                                                                                      V.I. Markin