News

In Moscow lawyer found guilty of fraud

A court has recognized the evidence gathered by the Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee sufficient to convict lawyer Zviad Khinikadze. He was found guilty of a crime under part 4 of article 159 of the RF Penal Code (fraud, that is stealing of another’s property by deceit on a very large scale).

The court and investigators have revealed that in autumn 2013, Khinikadze had a criminal intention to steal by deceit money from senior managers of a commercial bank in a very large scale. To implement the intention Khinikadze offered president of the board for a fee of 700 thousand US dollars, which was allegedly meant as a bribe for law enforcement officials, to arrange so that deputy president, chairman of the board of directors and president of the bank avoided prosecution and to prevent investigative operations which could have been reason to recall the bank’s license.

However, Khinikadze was not going to do the promised, but wanted to take the money to himself. The president of the bank believed Khinikadze and gave him 700 thousand dollars.

Khinikadze fully admitted his guilt. Additionally, his guilt is proved by the evidence obtained during the preliminary investigation and results of forensic analyses. At the request of investigators, a court arrested Khinikadze’s property to compensate the damage.

The court has sentenced Khinikadze to 2.5 years in prison.