ST. PETERSBURG, May 19 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) – A case against former general manager of St. Petersburg water utility Vodokanal  Yevgeny Tselikov, who stands charged with embezzlement of over 1 billion rubles (about $14 million at the current exchange rate), has been returned to prosecutors, RAPSI has learnt from the United press service of St. Petersburg courts.

Defense has filed petitions for disclosure of additional evidence and termination of the criminal prosecution against Tselikov due to his non-involvement in the crime, the statement reads.

In November 2019, the defendant was placed under house arrest.

According to the case materials, in 2011 the water utility made a contract, under which it received electrical power from OOO Razvitiye I Investitsii, either directly or through third parties. Investigators believe that in June 2016 through May 2019 Tselikov signed documents overpricing energy supplies.

The documents were used to recover from Vodokanal funds, which exceeded the caps on unregulated energy prices, totaling to 1.8 billion rubles; the money was transferred to the ex-manager acting in collusion with other persons, according to the statement.

In May 2019, after Vodokanal had been inspected by the Chamber of Control and Accounts, Tselikov was dismissed, whereas Vodokanal cancelled the contract with the energy supplier.

At that time, Maksim Shaskolsky, St. Petersburg Vice-Governor, said that the water utility inefficiently managed multibillion city investments, generated large debts, and was at the brink of bankruptcy. 

The manager of the energy supply contractor Alexey Maleyev has fled abroad from investigation.