19 Feb 2020 19:29

Adamas ex-director Vainberg arrested in Russia in absentia, placed on int'l wanted list

MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) - A former executive director of Russia's biggest jewelry manufacturer, Adamas, has been arrested in absentia in connection with tax fraud.

"In regard to Vainberg, Maksim Yuryevich, the court selected a restraining measure in the form of two-month custodial detention from the moment he is extradited to, or apprehended in, the Russian Federation," a Basmanny District Court spokesperson told Interfax in Moscow on Wednesday.

The man has been placed on the international wanted list, the spokesperson said.

Vainberg is accused of massive tax evasion by a group of accomplices, the spokesperson said, without providing extra details.

According to the court papers, Vainberg is currently unemployed, the press service said. Investigators have yet to comment on the situation.

In 2015, the Russian Investigative Committee announced having launched a criminal inquiry regarding the general director of an Adamas company for evading VAT in the amount of over 400 million rubles. In 2016, the Committee said it had opened a similar case against the director of another Adamas company for 5-billion-ruble tax evasion.

Vainberg resigned on October 1, 2015.