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Another criminal case opened against Defense Ministry officials connected to Oboronservis

The case was opened over illegal sale of the oil terminal on Mokhnatkin Cape, Murmansk Region

 MOSCOW, December 6 (Itar-Tass) — Another criminal case has been opened against Defense Ministry officials and directors of firms connected to Oboronservis, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass. The case was opened over illegal sale of the oil terminal on Mokhnatkin Cape, Murmansk Region...

Earlier, the main military investigation department /GVSU/ of the Investigative Committee /SK/ opened seven criminal cases over fraud involving 14 real estate facilities that belonged to the Oboronservis company subordinate to the Defense Ministry.

They were pooled in one case and are being investigated under the articles on fraud and exceeding and abusing authority.

Defense Ministry officials selected the most liquid and prestigious assets belonging to the Ministry, including Moscow-based property. As a rule, tremendous budget funds were injected into the property before it was sold at understated prices to commercial bodies affiliated with Oboronservis, the SK reported earlier.

Also, many facilities were purchased with the money stolen from Oboronservis.

The damage within the case is estimated at over four billion roubles.

Former head of the "Expert" legal support center Yekaterina Smetanova and her husband, former director general of a Moscow Military District warehouse Maxim Zakutailo are in custody on charges of fraud.

Former director of the Defense Ministry’s property department Yevgenia Vasilyeva is under house arrest.