Chief of Novorossiisk customs suspended from office

Victor Tsyganov, Chief of Novorossiisk customs suspected of abuse of authority, has been suspended from office. This news came on November, 25.

"Caucasian Knot" has already reported that in January, 2010, criminal proceedings were started against Victor Tsyganov according to part 1, clause 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (abuse of authority). A charge in accordance with this clause was brought against Tsyganov by Southern transport investigative department of the Prosecutor's committee of inquiry.

There is a suspicion that Victor Tsyganov and Vyacheslav Pletnev, Head of Regional Department of Federal Agency of State property management, in March and April, 2009, in the customs of Novorossiisk, passed on for realization to Regional Department "Rosimushestvo" in Krasnodar district 1300 ton of expired rice and 950 ton of expired starch under cost violating their duty instructions and special regulations established by the Government of the Russian Federation.

"For the reason that there was no valuation, the cereals and starch were sold under cost and the state received 22 million 950 thousand rubles less then due income", YUGA.ru portal quotes an extract from the report of Press Service of the State Committee of Inquiry of the Russian Federation.

Press Service of State Committee of Inquiry reports that upon the investigator's request the court suspended Victor Tsyganov from the Office of Head of Novorossiisk customs, "Novie Izvestia" reports.

Victor Tsyganov denies his guilt. He is currently on his own recognizance. If the court acknowledges Tsyganov guilty he may get a punishment of up to four years of custody, Krasnodar web-site 93.ru informs.