MOSCOW, June 27 (RAPSI) - Education and Science Minister Dmitry Livanov is not involved in the embezzlement of funds allocated for the modernization of one of the buildings used by Moscow State Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISiS), an Interior Ministry spokesperson told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

An investigation into the case has been resumed, he said.

"There is no mention in the old case papers that former MISiS head Livanov or his deputy Natalya Tretyak (now deputy minister) were involved in the crime," the source said.

The case was opened in May 2009 after unidentified individuals embezzled 57 million rubles ($1.7 million) of government money allocated for modernizing one of the institute's buildings. If convicted of fraud, the perpetrators could have faced up to 10 years in prison.

However, no suspects were arrested and no charges brought at the time, the source said. The institute management and representatives of construction companies hired for the project were questioned, and financial and operation reports seized.

In November 2009 the preliminary investigation was terminated. After it was resumed on June 3, 2013, the investigators have questioned other institute staff and took more reports from tax inspectorates.

Commenting on State Duma Deputy Vladimir Burmatov's request to investigate Livanov and Tretyak's involvement in the case, the Interior Ministry source said the investigation was underway and that Burmatov's information would be verified.

MISiS is one of Russia's leading educational and research centers. It aims to develop pioneering processes in a variety of fields ranging from metallurgy and materials science in which it has historic expertise to relatively new areas such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technologies and telecommunications, and sustainable development and energy efficiency.