MOSCOW, May 5 (RAPSI) – The Russian Interior Ministry’s Investigative Department has instituted a third criminal case against former Deputy Agriculture Minister Alexey Bazhanov, who is suspected of embezzling 1.125 billion rubles ($31.5 million) from Rosagroleasing, Kommersant newspaper writes on Monday.

If found guilty, Bazhanov will face a five-year prison sentence.

Rosagroleasing is a company with state capital set up to lease agricultural machinery, livestock and pedigree cattle to Russian farmers.

Bazhanov was previously charged with large-scale fraud (that charge was later reduced to fraudulent practices) and with embezzling a loan. Taken together with the third charge, the amount of damage could exceed 11 billion rubles ($308 million).

In late March, the Interior Ministry sent documents to Interpol for putting Bazhanov on the international wanted list.

According to the ministry, in 2009-2013 Bazhanov was responsible for borrowing 10 billion rubles ($280 million) from the Russian Agricultural Bank and Sviaz-Bank to purchase sunflower seed for a vegetable oil plant in the Voronezh Region. The ministry says the money was embezzled after being transferred to the accounts of companies that Bazhanov controlled.

In 2009-2010, Bazhanov was deputy to Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik, who is also being investigated over embezzlement at Rosagroleasing. No charges have been brought against her so far.