MOSCOW, October 24 (RAPSI) – Several criminal cases have been opened against Sochi officials, who are suspected of abuse of office or negligence, the Russian Investigative Committee’s press service reports.

According to the statement, deputy mayor of Sochi Ivan Bomberger abused his authority by unfoundedly issuing a permit for building a housing project within the boundaries of a protective power line zone, and therefore posed a man-caused emergency threat and possible power outage.

Another official, ex-first deputy head of Sochi administration Mugdin Chermit has illegally issued a permit for placing in commission an 18-storeyed not-repairable building, investigators say.

Director of the city administration’s department for architecture, urban construction and beautification Vladimir Malov has become a defendant in a negligence case. According to investigators, in September 2016, the official failed to check compliance of technical and urban construction regulations with the results of an engineer survey during commissioning an uncompleted multiple dwelling and approved a settlement with a company owning the building.

Searches have been conducted at the defendant’s places of living.