Mayor of Novoshakhtinsk suspected of abuse of authority

Investigators are carrying out inquiry concerning Igor Sorokin, Mayor of the town of Novoshakhtinsk, Rostov region, who, according to local Public prosecutor's office, infringed upon the town's independent water supply for the population, regional department of Committee of Inquiry of the Russian Federation (CIR) reports.

According to the results of the inspection of Novoshakhtinsk Public prosecutor's office, in July, 2009, Sorokin concluded a knowingly disadvantageous for the town peaceful agreement with two commercial organizations. Being in fact owner of the whole real estate complex the town relinquished its significant part, i.e. water supply complex, of its own accord.

The investigation assumes that the result of conclusion of this agreement was that the town relinquished socially significant property: the system of water supply and wastewater disposal residual value of 11,2 million rubles and lost its ability of independent water supply and wastewater disposal.

Upon the results of inquiry carried out by CIR, a decision of starting criminal proceedings on indication to crimes stipulated by part 3, clause 285 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (abuse of authority) will be taken, web-site of the department of CIR in Rostov region reports.

The constitutors of the commercial organizations with whom, in the opinion of Public prosecutor's office, Sorokin concluded the disadvantageous agreement, Igor Smykov ("Don Water Company 1") and Stanislav Chumakov ("Don Water Company 2") are presently in custody. Besides, last August a criminal case for suspicion of deliberate bankruptcy of "Water holding Don VK YUG" public corporation whose constitutors they were was initiated against them.

This April they were also accused of deliberate bankruptcy of "Don Water Company 1" public corporation. In the opinion of regional Public prosecutor's office, Igor Smykov and Stanislav Chumakov created two companies of the same name for the purpose of transfer of capital fund to "DWC No 2" and bankruptcy of "DWC No 1" company. Besides, "DWC No 2" regularly collected payment for wastewater disposal and sewage treatment services it did not really render and received over 13 million rubles from September till December, 2011, "Commersant" reports.

Earlier, the lawyers of the company declared that Smykov and Chumakov were detained and taken into custody unlawfully.