BarentsNews.com

The investigation of a charge against Sevrybkholodflot former general director Albert Levanov is under way, unveiling new facts on his criminal activities as head of the company.

Levanov was arrested in August this year on suspicion of preparing a murder assault on one of the company’s major shareholders Vladimir Blinsky, who has now taken the post of Sevrybkholodflot’s general director lost by the alleged offender.

At the present moment, Albert Levanov is kept in detention in the city of Petrozavodsk pending results of the investigation, which may take up to twelve months, according to latest reports.

At the same time, the Economic Crimes Investigating Department of Murmansk region is continuously probing cases of fraud committed by Levanov and accomplices against the crews of the vessels that were co-managed by Sevrybkholodflot and the US company Eastwind.

Investigators have established that during the period of 1996-2002 the management of JSC Sevrybkholodflot misappropriated sums amounting to USD 150 thousand that had to be paid to the vessels crewmembers as salaries or post-voyage bonuses.

Accounting documents providing proof of the mentioned Levanov’s frauds have been found and examined.

It is also known that Levanov used part of the illegally obtained money to buy up Sevrybkholodflot ordinary shares.

In late September, 17 157 shares owned by Albert Levanov were arrested.