In Chechnya, militia officer and local resident are accused of large-scale fraud

An unemployed resident of the Naur District of Chechnya and a militia officer, who served as an on duty officer of the temporary detention facility (known as "IVS") of the local ROVD (District Interior Division) are suspected of a large-scale fraud with the so-called "combat" payments, which amounted to 900,000 roubles. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the republic's law enforcement agencies that a criminal case was initiated against them.

The criminal offence was revealed in the course of the check for compliance with federal legislation, held by prosecutors in late December.

"The fraud with combat payments was committed back in 2008. The above resident of the Naur District made a conspiracy with the above on duty officer and fabricated a false judicial decision to his name on recovery of money from the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) as an additional reward for a militiaman's participation in a CTO (counterterrorist operation) and a writ on execution of the judicial decision. The militia officer then presented these documents to the Department of the Federal Treasury for the Chechen Republic, together with an application on payment of the claimed 'combat' money to him," said a source from local law enforcement bodies.

According to his story, in December 2008, on the basis of the presented documents, over 900,000 roubles were transferred from the federal budget to the officer's bank account. "His accomplice received the money on the basis of a proxy, gave 200,000 roubles to the militiaman and left the balance for himself," said the source.

A criminal case was initiated against the suspects under Part 3, Article 159, of the Russian Criminal Code (a large-scale fraud committed by a group of persons under a prior conspiracy). If the embezzlement is proved, the money will be recovered from them; and both suspects will face a threat of up to six years of imprisonment.

Let us note here that the suspects' attitude to the presented charges is unknown.