Russian Investigative Committee requests arrest of deputy heads of Vnukovo, Domodedovo customs
MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax) - The Moscow Basmanny District Court will consider the arrest of three more defendants in the case of abuse of office by head of the Federal Customs Service's investigative department Alexander Kizlyk.
"The court has received materials concerning the arrest of Konstantin Mishin, Andrei Shurygin, and Yury Cherkashin," court press secretary Irina Morozova told Interfax.
According to the court, Mishin and Cherkashin are both deputy heads of the Vnukovo and Domodedovo customs, and Shurygin is a senior investigator of high-profile cases in the Domodedovo customs.
All are charged with abuse of office with grievous consequences and face up to ten years in jail if found guilty.
On Tuesday, the Basmanny District Court arrested Kizlyk and his deputy Alexei Serebro.
The 60-year-old lieutenant general and his deputy were detained and indicted on December 23.
According to investigators, Kizlyk's guilt is proven by numerous pieces of evidence, including the testimony of witnesses, such as employees of the Russian Federal Customs Service.
Additionally, Kizlyk is now being checked for involvement in other crimes, an investigator said.
An investigator in court, in turn, said that Kizlyk's actions "facilitated exoneration from criminal responsibility, as well as a considerable decrease in administrative fines given to persons who illegally transported foreign currency on a massive scale, in other words, smuggled their personal funds."
According to an informed source, one of the counts Kizlyk is presumably charged with is his having "helped" the wife of the Russian ambassador to Kenya, who attempted to bring undeclared cash into Russia.
A total of 600,000 euros, as well as the same amount in dollars, gold bars weighing more than one kilogram, and watches of well-known brands were seized during a search of Kizlyk's home.
Kizlyk pleaded not guilty and said he did not order the undertaking of any illegal actions.