MOSCOW/YEKATERINBURG, March 1 (RIA Novosti) - Polish police have detained a Russian national suspected of defrauding several companies of stock and property worth an estimated $12 million, the Russian Interior Ministry said on Friday.
According to Russian investigators, the suspect, Sergei Petrov in 2004 fraudulently acquired 252 million rubles (about $8 million) worth of shares in the Urals-based UralinvestEnergo industrial group and the South Urals insulator plant, owned by the Uralinvestenergo corporation.
He is also suspected of misappropriating property worth over 119 million rubles (about $4 million) from the Uraleletrosetstroy company, between 2004 and 2006.
“As a result of his unlawful activities, Petrov has caused total damage in excess of 370 million rubles (about $12 million),” the ministry said, adding it is preparing an extradition request for Petrov which will soon be sent to Poland.
Urals region Interior Ministry press service chief Valery Gorelykh told RIA Novosti on Friday a criminal case against Petrov was opened in April 2005 on charges of grand fraud, money laundering and embezzlement.
He faces up to 10 years in jail if convicted.
Petrov was detained in Ukraine in 2008, but as he had refugee status in that country Russia’s extradition request was denied, Gorelykh said.
