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Police prevent illegal 90-million-rouble VAT refund

The sum of the stolen budget money might run into hundreds of million roubles

MOSCOW, May 15 (Itar-Tass) — The Interior Ministry exposed and prevented an illegal VAT refund attempt, the press service of the Ministry's investigation department told Itar-Tass. A group of business persons attempted to draw 90 million roubles from the state budget.

"The investigation department has brought charges of attempted fraud against several residents of the Moscow region. One of the suspects, Vasily Pleshkov, a resident of the town of Rubtsovsk, Altai Territory, has been charged in absentia; he has been put on the federal wanted list," the Interior Ministry said.

The fraudsters used the following scheme: they registered several legal entities engaging in trade and purchases, and appointed directors, and then forged contacts to purchase and re-sale products for which they had allegedly overpaid VAT.

"Police searched the suspects' apartments and officers retrieving objects and documents which had significance for the criminal case," an Interior Ministry official said.

Police have reasons to assume that these persons might be involved in similar crimes and that the sum of the stolen budget money might run into hundreds of million roubles.

"The law-enforcement bodies have asked all the citizens who might have information about Pleshkov's whereabouts, who is hiding from the investigators and trial, to contact them at "02," the investigation department said.

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