19 Oct 2012 12:54

TNK-BP department head detained

MOSCOW. Oct 19 (Interfax) - The Irkutsk region government's former deputy chairman, who today heads the TNK-BP company's department for contacts with the state authorities, has been detained on suspicion of fraud.

"Detectives of the Russian Interior Ministry's Economic Security Directorate have detained the director of TNK-BP's department for contacts with the state authorities. He is accused of fraud linked with the sale of high-ranking posts in the state authorities," an Interior Ministry spokesman said, declining to name the suspect.

Before June 2012, the suspect held the post of the Irkutsk region government's deputy prime minister in charge of the region's economic development and industry, "which allowed him to create the image of an influential man with extensive connections," he said.

However, in reality, the former official was not able to influence any personnel decisions in the state authorities.

"It has been established that in September 2012, the suspect, acting through his acquaintance, offered two entrepreneurs the posts of head of the Russian presidential administration's domestic policy department and deputy chief of the office of the president's envoy to the Central Federal District for a price of $3 million each," the spokesman said.

He was detained while receiving an advance payment of over three million rubles. The IDs of the Irkutsk region government's deputy chairman, a Russian cabinet member and a counterintelligence service veteran were confiscated from the suspect, the spokesman said.

"The Russian Interior Ministry's Main Investigative Department for Moscow opened a criminal case against him based on charges of a large-scale fraud attempt. He has been remanded into custody," he said.

An investigation continues.