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Former FMS officials suspected of 70-million-rouble fraud

It was found out that they had stolen the money allocated for the implementation of the state program to assist compatriots living abroad in moving back to Russia

MOSCOW, October 6 (Itar-Tass) — Police in Moscow detained two former Federal Migration Service officials on suspicion of fraud, spokesman for the Investigative Committee (SK) Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

"Today, police have detained former head of the FMS department for compatriots' affairs Andrei Mayorov, former head of an office under the same department Andrei Demidov, and director general of the Rezultat commercial firm Sergei Beloborodov," Markin said.

The main department of the Investigative Committee for Moscow is investigating a criminal case over grand theft of FMS funds. "In the course of the investigation and operations conducted together with agents of the Federal Security Service, and assisted by representatives of the FSM inspection/audit department, it was ascertained that the above persons, upon entering in criminal collusion, were stealing FMS money through fraud.

"It was found out that they had stolen the money allocated for the implementation of the state program to assist compatriots living abroad in moving back to Russia," the spokesman said.

"Beloborodov failed to execute the works stipulated by the contracts to produce theme-based graphic products and deliver them to FMS offices and consulates abroad, while Mayorov and Demidoov drew documents to transfer money to the Rezultat company.

"Investigators believe the suspects stole 69,440,000 roubles from FMS funds in the period of 2007 - 2009," Markin said.

Beloborodov has already been charged with grand fraud by a group in collusion under Article 159, Part 4 of Russia's Criminal Code.

Similar charges might be brought against Mayorov and Demidov shortly.

Investigators intend to ask the court to place the suspects in custody.

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