NOVOSIBIRSK, September 23 - RAPSI. A military garrison court passed a 6.5-year and four-year sentence for a military unit's former and present accountants for stealing $212,400, the Military Prosecutor's Office reported on Friday.

The court found the accountants of the Siberian military unit guilty of fraud and forgery.

"The inspection by the prosecutor's office, and preliminary and judicial investigations revealed that within five years the accused received and eventually stole $212,400 by using forged powers of attorney," the office said. "The funds were intended for community facilities to be provided to non-budget customers."

The court also deprived one of the accused of his mayoral rank. It also satisfied a claim to fully recover the damages that the state had suffered from the defendants.