Donetsk, May 16 - DAN. Twelve members of a criminal group have been detained in the Donetsk People’s Republic on suspicion of involvement in fuel thefts, the DPR Interior Ministry press service reported.
“The DPR Interior Ministry department for combating organised crime stopped the activity of a criminal group of 12 persons which included six police officers,” the press service said. “For two years, this group has been stealing diesel fuel supplied to a Donetsk Railways state-owned enterprise locomotive depot.”
Monthly thefts reached some 100 tons. Investigators obtained and retrieved hard evidence in the course of 18 searchers. The suspects are in custody, it added.
The suspects’ actions are covered by Article 172, Part 4 of the DPR’s Criminal Code (theft of property entrusted to the culprit by a group of persons in collusion using their authority). If proven guilty, they might face up to ten years in prison with a maximum fine of one million rubles.*jk