Defendant in ex-minister Abyzov’s case who escaped detained

The prosecution is seeking for the arrest of Sergey Ilyichev.

The prosecution is asking court to arrest Sergey Ilyichev who had been abroad. Ilyichev had been put under formal investigation as an alleged accomplice of an ex-minister of the Open government Mikhail Abyzov.

“Materials related to remand in custody as a measure of restraint as to Sergey Ilyichev have arrived in court. The hearings are expected to be launched in the near future,” reports MediaZona with reference to the media relations officer of Moscow’s Basmanny court Yunona Tsareva.

Tsareva says the prosecution accused Ilyichev under item 3 of article 210 of Russia’s Criminal Code (participation in a criminal community with use of official powers) and item 4 of article 159 of Russia’s Criminal Code (swindling on an especially large scale). According to the request, the prosecution asked the court to arrest him for a month and 20 days that is till May 25.

The Investigative Committee of Russia had earlier reported Ilyichev had escaped abroad and his whereabouts had been determined. It is not being specified where the defendant was detained.

The CrimeRussia had earlier reported the ex-minister Mikhail Abyzov and 5 other defendants in the case - including Ilyichev who had been a head of Regionalnye elektricheskiye seti (Regional electric networks) - had been suspected of creation of a criminal community and participation thereby (items 2 and 3 of article 210 of Russia’s Criminal Code) and swindling on an especially large scale (item 4 of article 159 of Russia’s Criminal Code). All of them - except Ilyichev - were sent to a remand prison. With that, Abyzov’s defense had asked for his release on a 1 billion rubles ($15.3 million) bail.

The investigation theory is that Abyzov - while being the minister - and his accomplices developed a scheme on deception of shareholders of Sibirskaya energeticheskaya kompaniya(Siberian energy company) and Regionalnye elektricheskiye seti (Regional electric networks) that produce and deliver electrical power in Novosibirsk region. As a result, the damage to the enterprises was estimated at 4 billion rubles ($61 million). The Investigative Committee assumes that this money had been siphoned off abroad. Abyzov pleads not guilty.

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