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Investigators bring charges against suspects in Bank of Moscow affiliate theft case

Сriminal group stole 350 million roubles

MOSCOW, October 24 (Itar-Tass) — Investigators have brought charges against suspects in the case over theft of money belonging to the Vologda branch of the Bank of Moscow: former regional legislators Nikolai Golubin and his son Sergei Golubin, Vologda city legislature deputy Alexander Denisov, arbitration manager Vladimir Smirnov, businessman Igor Sakharov and former tax inspector Valeria Berdyyeva.

They were charged under Article 159, Part 4 /fraud/, and Article 174, Part 3 /money laundering/ of Russia's penal code.

"Nikolai and Sergei Golubin who were deputies of the legislative assembly of the Vologda region, acting as members of an organized criminal group, committed thefts of funds of the Vologda branch of the Bank of Moscow under the guise of issuing loans," Investigation Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said.

Nikolai Golubin exploited the post of bank branch director to realize the criminal scheme. In 2005 through 2009, Golubin supervised the illegal issue of loans to199 natural persons and legal entities.

Until 2008, active assistance was provided by lawyers Alexander Denisov and Igor Sakharov, lawyer Vadim Smirnov and former tax inspectorate employee Valeria Berdyyeva who were the Golubins' acquaintances with special legal knowledge and connections in banking and business.

In all, the criminal group stole 350 million roubles. The fraudsters returned part of the money in 2008 in order to conceal their previous crimes and have the opportunity to continue to embezzle Bank funds.

The damage to the Bank is estimated at 250 million roubles. The money was distributed between members of the organized group. The bulk of funds was used to purchased property or invest in the authorized capital of companies, according to the SK spokesman.

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