A Dutch citizen of Russian descent faces trial in Kazan on charges of attempting to embezzle more than $66 million from a Russian shipbuilding plant in April last year.
Andrei Kosachyov, head of the Dutch company Swolmer International Shipping, is accused of trying to embezzle the funds from the Zelenodolsky Shipbuilding Plant located in Tatarstan, RIA-Novosti reported Wednesday, citing the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Investigators said Kubachyov signed a deal in April 2008 with factory deputy director Larisa Kashina to purchase 59 vessels built by the plant. Under the arrangement, the plant opened a collateral account in a Kazan branch of Sberbank to guarantee the deliveries. Kubachyov opened an account in the same bank and unsuccessfully tried to transfer the plant's money from the collateral account into his own, prosecutors said.
If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison. Kashina also faces charges in the case.
The Prosecutor General’s Office said Kubachyov and Kashina were suspected of previous wrongdoing in connection with an agreement in November 2007 in which Kubachyov agreed to move a tanker from one location to another for about $79,000. Kubachyov received the money but did not fulfill the contract, prosecutors said.
Kubachyov was detained last June at Sheremetyevo Airport as he was preparing to leave Russia.
Kubachyov, incidentally, has been linked to the Russian intelligence services in the past. In 2002, he was deported from Latvia on accusations of spying for Russia, Interfax reported at the time. Latvian officials said Kubachyov tried to collect commercial secrets about local energy plants using a Dutch passport issued under a name other than his.
The Zelenodolsky Shipbuilding Plant produces both civilian and military vessels. In 2007, the company won a tender to supply 20 patrol vessels to the Algerian coast guard.