MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI) – Former employee of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Internal Troops HQ Alexander Koloskov has been sentenced to three years in a penal colony for stealing aircraft components valued at 9 million rubles ($156,000), RAPSI has learnt in the St. Petersburg Garrison Military Court.

Koloskov's accomplice, former employee of the Exploitation of Aviation and Helicopter Equipment company Andrey Yeresko was also found guilty and sentenced to three years in a penal colony.

The court recovered 9 million rubles ($156,500) from the defendants.

According to case documents, in late 2011, Koloskov conspired with Yeresko to steal nearly 3,700 aircraft components from a military base. Investigators believe that Koloskov was behind a contract on examination of components’ condition signed between the base administration and Yeresko’s firm.

The court found that 52 out of 56 components were declared non-repairable because of Yeresko’s actions. Koloskov classified those as scrap and as a result 13 functioning components were no longer regarded as military property and were nearly sold as scrap metal.