ST. PETERSBURG, August 8 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) – A court in Vladivostok has sentenced Igor Nesterenko, ex-General Director of TMK (Pacific Bridge Building Company), a former contractor in the Vostochny Cosmodrome project, to a 130,000 ruble fine (about $2,000) for non-payment of salaries to workers, RAPSI learnt in the Investigative Committee’s Investigation Directorate in the Primorsky Territory on Monday.

According to case materials, since December 2014 Nesterenko failed to pay the salaries of 730 corporate employees. Although he supposedly could have paid the workers’ scheduled salaries, he instructed his managers to spend the available cash on other corporate projects, according to the case files. The wage arrears exceeded 19 million rubles ($290,000) when the case against Nesterenko was opened.

In April, Nesterenko was found guilty of embezzling about 104.5 million rubles ($1.6 million) and sentenced to 3 years and 3 months in prison. Additionally, he was fined 900,000 rubles ($13,700).

The construction of the space center, due to become Russia's main launch site, began in 2012. The facility is planned to be completed in 2016.