MOSCOW, July 13 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court has dismissed four appeals filed against a ruling of a lower court confiscating 9 billion rubles ($145.3 million) from the former Russian anti-corruption official Dmitry Zakharchenko charged with corruption crimes, as well as his relatives, the press-service of the court has told RAPSI.
According to a representative of the court, the judge is to review seven appeals more.
On July 12, the Investigative Committee reported transfer of 9 billion rubles to its bank accounts.
Earlier, a court granted a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office and confiscated money and property belonging to Zakharachenko and his relatives. Overall, the property in this case is evaluated at 9 billion rubles, including 27 real estate objects in elite neighborhoods of Moscow, 4 high-end automobiles, 8 billion rubles (about $129.2 million) and a gold bar. The ruling came into force in March.
Ex-Russian anti-corruption official Dmitry Zakharchenko was arrested on September 8, 2016. During searches at the apartment belonging to Zakharchenko’s sister law enforcement officers found around 9 billion rubles. He denied any relation to seized funds.
Zakharchenko was charged with receiving a 7-million-ruble ($114,000) bribe from an unknown source. He has also been charged with abuse of office and hindering the conduct of preliminary investigation. In March, it was revealed that he is charged with two more instances of corruption crimes.
According to case papers, Viktor Zakharchenko, the father of ex-official, is charged with being an accessory to embezzlement. He also pleaded not guilty.