Russia could turn to Interpol, UK for legal assistance if Baturina doesn't report for questioning
MOSCOW. Oct 28 (Interfax) - The Russian Interior Ministry's Investigative Department could turn to Interpol if the Inteco company's former owner Yelena Baturina does not report for questioning as a witness in the probe into the extension of a loan to the Premier Estate firm by Bank of Moscow. Baturina currently resides abroad.
"If still Baturina does not report for questioning at the Interior Ministry's Investigative Department as a witness, investigators in charge of the preliminary probe will take exhaustive measures to ensure her presence and involvement in the investigative actions, including by turning to Interpol," the press service of the Interior Ministry's Investigative Department told Interfax.
"If necessary the Russian law enforcement agencies will be compelled to request legal assistance from British and Austrian law enforcement agencies," it said.
Baturina was summoned for questioning to the Investigative Department as a witness on February 25, on March 4 and On April 8. "She did not report for questioning, while investigators each time received letters from Inteco, signed by the personnel department chief, saying that Baturina was outside Russia and could not testify in this connection," the department said.
Over 12 billion rubles in loans from Bank of Moscow to the Premier Estate firm finally arrived in 2009 on the accounts of the Inteco company, formerly owned by Baturina, it said.
"The loan was received based on untrue
information about the collateral and its value. The collateral in question was a 58-hectare landsite that belonged to the Ramenskoye Territorial Directorate, co-owned by three employees of the Inteco company, with 90% owned by Baturina," the Interior Ministry said.
The probe also aims to find out whether Inteco and Baturina had the right to receive this landsite. If new offences are uncovered this case could be further handled in a separate investigation, it said.
"Inteco has a new owner now, while Baturina remains abroad," the Investigative Department said.
