MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - A Moscow court extended the custody of an executive vice president of bankrupt Russian oil company Yukos, charged with embezzlement and money laundering, until December 2, a court spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Anna Usachyova said the Moscow City Court ruled that Vasily Aleksanyan "will be remanded in custody for three more months following a petition from the Prosecutor General's Office."
The Prosecutor General's Office accuses Aleksanyan of embezzling $460 million from Yukos production unit Tomskneft, and funds from other oil companies, and of laundering another $460.8 million through his Swiss bank account.
He faces 10-15 years in prison if found guilty. The former Yukos official denies the charges.
Prosecutors said earlier they wanted Aleksanyan to be remanded in custody because they feared he could flee the country, and that he had attempted to do so already. They also said he could try to intimidate witnesses, destroy documents, or hinder the investigation if released.
