Gas-meter fraud case alleging losses above 230 million roubles sent to court

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has sent a foreign national’s case to Magas District Court in Ingushetia over alleged losses exceeding 230 million roubles during gas-meter installation work. The office announced approval of the indictment on October 14.

Investigators allege that the defendant and accomplices supplied customers with false information about completed work installing gas meters with telemetry. The contracts covered Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Dagestan and Ingushetia.

Prosecutors put the alleged losses to four organisations at more than 230 million roubles. The defendant is charged under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code, covering organised-group fraud on an especially large scale.

Other alleged accomplices are already on trial. A law enforcement source told RIA Novosti that the defendant in the newly submitted case was a Ukrainian citizen on a wanted list and was expected to be tried in absentia.