MOSCOW, February 15 - RAPSI. Yevgeny Rogachyov, former chief of corporate business of Master Bank, who is suspected of cashing out 2 billion rubles ($64 million), told RAPSI on Friday that he had not made a pretrial agreement with the investigation.
Previously, a law-enforcement source had told RAPSI that Rogachyov had been released on his own recognizance because he had agreed to cooperate with the authorities. Rogachyov was detained in April 2012, the court order on his arrest was issued in October 2012.
A pretrial agreement allows a separate procedure to be followed, which excludes the examination of the evidence and the questioning of witness.
Agreeing to this kind of a bargain is considered a mitigating circumstance, which means that the court cannot impose the maximum punishment.
When speaking to RAPSI, Rogachyov confirmed he had been released on his own recognizance but claimed that he had not made a pretrial agreement, because he would not speak out against his partners or Master Bank.
Rogachyov is suspected of illegally cashing 2 billion rubles ($64 million) as a member of an organized group which offered businessmen a range of services, including tax evasion and money laundering schemes.
The Interior Ministry said the regulatory authority had been notified of the violations in Master Bank's dealings.
Banking malpractices were also uncovered in a number of other banks. Investigators established that their management transferred funds under false payment orders to the accounts of fly-by-night companies for subsequent withdrawal.
The scheme operators charged 3% to 7% for their services. Several group members are being investigated on charges of unlawful banking, which carries a maximum punishment of seven years. In October 2012, the Central Bank of Russia announced that it would take supervisory action against Master Bank following the discovery of malpractices during inspections.
Master Bank was established in 1992. It is one of Russia's 100 largest banks. Its charter capital is $104.08 million.
