New defendants and witnesses may appear during the investigation into the criminal case on the supply of substandard bulletproof vests to the Russian Armed Forces, RIA Novosti reported on August 31 with reference to the case materials.
“Not all witnesses and other members of the organized group have been identified and questioned”says the materials.
Earlier, several employees of the Piket group of companies were arrested on charges of large-scale fraud: CEO Andrei Esipov, head of the security service Mikhail Kalchenko and CFO Victoria Antonova. On August 30, the Basmanny Court of Moscow extended the arrest of the defendants in the case until December.
The investigation believes that these employees stole money from the Russian Ministry of Defense intended for the purchase of bulletproof vests. More than 20 thousand bulletproof vests were supplied that did not meet the requirements specified in the agreement dated November 10, 2022. The total amount received is about 2.4 billion rubles.
The stolen money was used to buy real estate and shares in 5 companies; these assets were seized. In addition, money from the Piket group of companies was found in 22 bank accounts.
Read also: It has become known that those involved in the bulletproof vest case received 2.4 billion rubles.
According to its own official information, the Piket group of companies supplies tactical equipment, allegedly assists Russian military personnel serving in the Northern Military District, and is also allegedly engaged in import substitution. Its products include unmanned aerial vehicles, communications and defense equipment, clothing, footwear and other equipment.
Read also: Piket CEO’s detention extended over substandard bulletproof vest case
Source: Rossa Primavera
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