Roscosmos deputy general director Frolov charged with 435 mln ruble embezzlement - Russian Investigative Committee

MOSCOW. Dec 22 (Interfax) - Roscosmos state corporation deputy general director Oleg Frolov and two businessmen have been arrested on suspicion of embezzling 435 million rubles allocated for purchasing equipment, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Telegram on Friday.

The committee's "main investigative directorate is probing a criminal case against the state corporation Roscosmos' deputy general director for space activities, Oleg Frolov, an individual entrepreneur, and a representative of a commercial organization," the statement said.

All three have been indicted with massive fraud, it said.

"According to the inquiry, Frolov used his office to conspire with two other co-participants in the crime. During the performance of a contract, they stole at least 435 million rubles of public funds [intended] for the purchase of equipment," the statement said.

"Today the court has granted an investigator's petition for the accused to be remanded in custody. As part of the criminal case, inquiries and procedural actions are underway to establish all circumstances surrounding the crime," the statement said.

Roscosmos has confirmed Frolov's arrest.

"The Roscosmos state corporation [hereby] confirms the detention of Oleg Frolov. Details concerning the indictment and the inquiries as part of the criminal case are the remit of the Russian Investigative Committee," the corporation's press service said on Friday.