MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI) – Nearly 30 alleged members of a criminal group accused of planning a series of massive cyber-attacks on major Russian banks and international payment systems face new charges, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.

Alleged members of the group were arrested in November 2015 on suspicion of planning cyber-attacks on the processing centres of Russian and foreign banks and stealing at least 1.5 billion rubles ($21,300).

All the men were charged with theft, fraud, illegal access to computer information, creation and distribution of malicious software.

Masterminds of the gang now face charges that they organized a criminal network and up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The criminal group may have comprised at about 100 members, according to the police. It was highly capable and well-prepared.