Investigators uncovered a fraudulent scheme in which the company received loans for large amounts from banks shortly before their bankruptcy, and then did not return the debts. The borrowed funds were probably withdrawn through fly-by-night firms under fictitious contracts, the services for which were not actually provided, a law enforcement source told Izvestia.
According to the IC, in 2013–2014, Proektneftegazstroy JSC (PNGS) received three tranches under a credit line from Tusar Bank – € 2.5 million, $ 2.6 million and 30 million rubles (a total of almost 229 million rubles). said the source. According to him, the Investigative Committee believes that the company was not going to return the borrowed funds.
Investigators found out that the firm’s specialists provided the bank with forged documents with a falsified financial history. PNGS General Director Kirill Revako, his assistant Vyacheslav Sundukov, accountant Marina Bortkova and unidentified persons are suspected of fraud, the source said. He clarified: on November 29, 2021, a case was initiated under Part 4 of Art. 159.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
The Central Bank revoked the license from Tusar Bank in September 2015. A month later, the credit institution was declared bankrupt, and the functions of the bankruptcy commissioner were transferred to the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA). An inventory of the bank’s property showed a shortage of 15.5 billion rubles.
“Often, banks, realizing that they are threatened with closure in the next six to nine months, begin to actively attract companies with fictitious turnovers and often affiliated with top management for lending,” said Pavel Utkin, leading lawyer at Parfenon.
According to Artem Chekotkov, a lawyer and partner of MKA Knyazev and Partners, most often in such cases the borrowers are persons affiliated with the owners of the bank. Such a scheme, he noted, is used to withdraw assets if there is already an understanding that the bank’s license will be revoked soon.
As clear as money: Investigators have uncovered a bankruptcy fraud scheme
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
