Moscow court arrests Russian deputy transport minister charged with fraud

MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax) - Moscow's Khoroshyovsky Court has granted the investigation's motion to arrest Deputy Transport Minister Vladimir Tokarev, who is charged with serious fraud, a court representative told Interfax.

"The court issued a ruling to select custody as a measure of restraint for Tokarev," the court official said on Friday.

Tokarev is arrested until March 18.

The deputy minister has been indicted for major fraud in a group of individuals by prior agreement, using his official position. It emerged on Wednesday that Tokarev was detained.

According to investigators from the Russian Interior Ministry, while holding the position of first deputy CEO at SpetsTransStroy in 2016 - 2018, Tokarev involved several people holding senior managerial positions in the company, as well as in Glavstroyinvest, and other affiliated firms, in criminal activities with a view to embezzling the company's funds.

Investigators said in court that, apart from Tokarev, there are other suspects in the case.