Russian Arms Manufacturers Embezzled $257 Million In 2012: Investigators

Russian investigators looking into allegations of kickbacks and corruptions have uncovered that state-run companies have embezzled more 10 billion rubles ($257 million) this year. According to Investigative Committee spokesman Alexander Sorochkin, the alleged sum included 6.7 billion rubles ($215 million) suspected to have been stolen via a corruption scheme that cost Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov his job earlier this month. In 2011, losses from combined embezzlement at the ministry stood at 3 billion rubles, according to the Military Prosecutor General’s Office. Serdyukov is expected to be questions by detectives over his alleged involvement in a property scam. Two businessmen were arrested as part of the probe into the case, and a third was detained overnight, Sorochkin said on Wednesday. Yelena Vasilyeva, Serdyukov’s alleged mistress, has been placed under house arrest.