MOSCOW, November 8 (RAPSI) – A criminal case against five persons charged with embezzling over 160 million rubles (about $2.5 million) during utilization of aircraft missile components has been forwarded to court for hearing, the Investigative Committee of Russia reports Thursday.

Executive director of the State scientific and proving ground for aircraft systems Vladimir Niyazov, ex-CEO of Turaevo Machine-building Design Bureau “SOYUZ” Nikolay Yakovlev, deputy director of the South-Ural Specialized Recovery Center Igor Maloletkin, business manager of the Tactical Missiles Corporation Victor Vagan and one more individual Andrey Sidorov depending on their role in the crime are charged with embezzlement and stealing of arms.

According to case papers, between 2010 and 2011, the State scientific and proving ground for aircraft systems was to demount 93 aircraft missiles and transfer their components to the South-Ural Specialized Recovery Center for recovery. Investigators claim that the defendants lifted working engines from these rockets, sold them to Ukraine and submitted forged utilization documents to the Russian Defense Ministry. They caused damage estimated at more than 160 million rubles to the state, the statement reads.  

Two other defendants were earlier tried separately and received prison terms.