MOSCOW, December 5 - RAPSI. Vladimir Polyutov, a former deputy head of the Property Ministry's Moscow Department, who was accused of abuse of power resulting in over 2.5 billion rubles ($80.6 million) in losses for the state, has committed suicide in Moscow, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti.

The Moscow City Court was set to issue a sentence against Polyutov and his former boss Tatyana Naydenova on Wednesday.

"Polyutov was found shot dead in his apartment," the source said.

"According to preliminary data, he shot himself in the chest with a double-barrel shotgun at 5 a.m., and he died from the resulting injuries," according to the source. The crime scene is being examined, he added.

Investigators believe that in 2004 Naydenova approved the list of Stankoimport's assets subject to privatization, unlawfully adding to it the securities of 19 foreign companies set up at the expense of Russia. She also appointed Polyutov as the board chairman of Stankoimport.

On the same day, Polyutov signed an act pursuant to which the shares of the aforementioned companies assessed at 897,700 rubles ($28,941) were included in Stankoimport's capital, while their actual market price amounted to more than 2.5 billion rubles ($80.6 million).

A criminal case was initiated for abuse of power, which stipulates up to ten years in prison.