Roscosmos's facility was ordered to be demolished
In a surprising twist, the high-profile trial in Moscow's Meshchansky Court drew to a close, leaving the former leaders of the "Center for Perspective Technologies and Equipment" (CPTE) pondering their fate. Despite being found guilty of fraudulently embezzling over 150 million rubles from "Roscosmos," these ex-CPTE heads were spared the usual consequences.
The sentencing saw three defendants - Raigedas Pocius, Oleg Arkhipenkov, and Alexander Sofinsky - packing up their belongings, ready to walk free (albeit under suspended sentences). The fourth defendant, Semyon Shishkin, the chief designer and head of the design bureau of CPTE, opted to skip court, being hospitalized instead.
The verdict, handed down by Judge Irina Gorbunina, mirrored the prosecution's demands in finding the defendants guilty of large-scale fraud. However, the prison sentences meted out were no more than a slap on the wrist - five years for Semen Shishkin and Alexander Sofinsky, and five and a half years for Raigedas Pocius and Oleg Arkhipenkov. The state's claim for damages remained unaddressed, leaving the door open for further legal proceedings.
The court's decision to spare these guilty parties, despite the hefty embezzlement, has sparked questions. The prosecution had sought real prison terms, proposing sentences of six and a half to seven years. But the judge opted for a different route, one that left many scratching their heads.
Interestingly, the court ordered the destruction of prototype batteries (five in total), considered crucial evidence in the case, after the verdict comes into force. Both the defense and the prosecution have the right to appeal the decision within 15 days.
However, the convicted men seemed satisfied with their lenient sentences, expressing uncertainty about whether they would challenge the verdict. Raigedas Pocius and Oleg Arkhipenkov saw the judge's decision as a compromise, attributing it to the prosecution's inability to prove their guilt. They argued that their defense had been restricted, and key technical documentation was lost, which left them disadvantaged. They also claimed the court failed to order an economic expertise that would have determined the real damage caused to the state.
Alexander Sofinsky remained mum, while his lawyer, Yevgeny Skripilev, signaled his intention to file an appeal against the verdict. He disagreed with the prosecution's arguments, stating that they relied mostly on Arkhipenkov's confessions, which he later retracted in court.
The case against CPTE's former leaders echoes the fate of Nikolai Ermolovich, another player in this saga. Ermolovich was initially accused of aiding and abetting fraud against the same men, but the case against him was closed due to lack of evidence. However, he faced separate charges of securing state contracts in exchange for bribes. His case, like that of Sofinsky, Pocius, Arkhipenkov, and Shishkin, was also rejected by the judicial system, and it's still under investigation.
The twists and turns of this drama underscore the complex nature of Russia's legal system, where political connections, lack of evidence, cooperation with authorities, judicial discretion, public image, legal technicalities, and societal factors can all play a role in sentencing decisions.
Business interests and the industry of justice seemingly collide in this lengthy trial, as the former leaders of the "Center for Perspective Technologies and Equipment" (CPTE) were found guilty of embezzling funds yet received light sentences, sparking controversy. In the finance sector, the state's claim for damages following the embezzlement of over 150 million rubles remains unresolved, leaving the possibility for further legal proceedings.
