Donetsk, Feb 27 - DAN. DPR law-enforcers detained 22 Coal and Energy Ministry personnel on suspicion of 100-million-ruble embezzlement, the Republic’s police authorities said on Tuesday.

“As part of joint anti-corruption measures in upper echelons of power, DPR Interior Ministry, State Security Ministry, Tax and Revenue Ministry and Prosecutor General’s Office stopped the criminal activity of a number of high-placed officials at DPR Coal and Energy Ministry,” the Interior Ministry public relations centre reported. “Twenty two officials of various ranks have been detained; seventeen of them are now in custody.”

The report said Coal and Energy Minister Eduard Golenko, “with the view of personal unlawful enrichment, set up a criminal group to embezzle subordinate enterprises’ funds through fraudulent schemes of supplies of goods and assets and provision of services.

According to the Interior Ministry, the criminal group has stolen more than 100 million rubles from state-owned enterprises in the Republic’s coal and energy sector since January 2017. A number of criminal cases were filed against the suspects. The investigation is ongoing.*jk