Penza, 14 January 2013. PenzaNews. Illegal scheme of alienation of power assets of LLC “Energostream” and misappropriation of funds on a large scale, on the territory of the Penza region as well, was detected by the members of the general department of economic security and anti-corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

“It was found that the former Director General and a number of company heads organized illegal alienation of shares of retail companies in several regions of the country. This way 32,98% of shares of public corporation “Penzaenergosbyt” were alienated. It was also found that the main instruments of manipulation were regional power supply companies, utility companies, as well as individuals and legal bodies,” commented a member of the press service of the general department of economic security and anti-corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Natalia Semenova in an interview with news agency PenzaNews on Monday, January 14.

She specified that the suspects possessing prior knowledge of disadvantageous terms, contrary to the commercial interests of the holding company, entered into contracts of selling shares of energy supply companies with subordinate organizations, after which energy assets were transferred to the ownership of foreign affiliated companies registered in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands.

“Money spent for the purchase of assets, were paid with loans, and the risks of non-returns were collected from the ordinary consumers. According to preliminary estimates, the amount of damage exceeds 12 billion rubles,” the agency interlocutor added.

According to her, the members of the general department of economic security and anti-corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia documented all stages of illegal activities of the group.

“Operational search activities were being carried out during 2012 in various regions of Russia, including the Belgorod, Bryansk, Ivanovo, Kursk, Omsk, Orel, Penza, Smolensk, Tver, Tula regions, and in Buryatia. Dozens of seals, stamps of phony companies and documents proving illegal activities were withdrawn. Regional criminal cases filed on the grounds of fraud on a large scale, are combined into one,” Natalia Semenova explained, adding that the collected evidence served as a basis for initiating a criminal case against the suspects on the fact of power abuse.

“Currently there are ongoing activities aimed at establishing accomplices of the defendants, as well as additional episodes of their illegal activities in the energy sector of the country,” concluded the representative of the general department of economic security and anti-corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.