MOSCOW, March 31 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul) – Moscow’s Gagarinsky District Court found former Russian senator Alexander Sabadash guilty of attempted embezzlement of 1.8 billion rubles ($31 million) and sentenced him to 6 years in prison, RAPSI repored from the courtroom.

The investigation into the attempted embezzlement involving Arkhangelsk-based developer ES-Kontaktstroy and JSC Vyborgskaya Cellulose reportedly began several years ago. 

Sabadash, believed to be the owner of Vyborgskaya Cellulose, was charged with organizing a fraudulent VAT refund scheme.

Sabadash was stripped of his seat in the parliament’s upper house, the Federation Council, in 2006 after he was accused of carrying out business activities, which senators are forbidden to do.

He was detained in March 2014.