MOSCOW, November 12 (RAPSI) – Ex-CEO of VIM Airlines Alexander Kochnev and ex-chief accountant Yekaterina Panteleyeva will stand trial on allegations of abuse of office, the Investigative Committee’s press service reports Tuesday.

Their case has been forwarded to court for hearing. The defendants are also charged with credit fraud and conducting foreign currency transactions to the non-resident accounts with the use of forged documents.

Final charges were brought against them nearly a year ago.

Investigators claim that VIM Airlines headed by Rashid Mursekayev was made as a fraudulent pyramid scheme. The air carrier’s management covered up material losses adding false earnings information in financial statements. These steps gave them a chance to obtain loans in banks and avoid activity barriers from the Federal Air Transport Agency, the statement reads.

Mursekayev and ex-financial director of VIM Airlines Alevtina Kalashnikova fled abroad. Their case is being investigated separately.