Financial police investigates criminal case regarding former head of Valyut-Transit-Bank JSC (Kazakhstan) (addition)

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Astana, November 2, 06, title of KASE / - The state agency of Kazakhstan on struggle with economic and corruption criminality (ASECC, financial police) initiated and investigates the criminal case concerning now former chairman of Board of directors of Valut- Transit-Bank JSC (VTB) Andrey Balyalov. Except this, to the criminal liability the financial police intends to attract the number of employees of this bank for abuse of authorities and pseudo- business activities, had informed Rustam Ibraimov, the first deputy chairman of ASECC. "It is determined, that to the account of pseudo-organization "Santoriya" with the using of false agreements on the banking loan and security of money funds by the bank were transferred money in the sum of KZT1.7 bn. which at the moment were transferred to the settlement account of Newtek-plus LLP, from which were transferred to the accounts of Omega-plus-NV LLP, Cristall-Unios LLP, Parus LLP - and in totally were transferred to the personal account belonging to Belyalov," told R. Ibraimov on the press- conference on Thursday in Astana. Current rate - 127.84/$1. According to his information, during the investigation bank did not provide the credit files for Santoriya LLP and a number of other organizations. "By the explanation of the leaders of the bank, these credit files were removed to archives of the other building and lost because of flood in the quarters. But according to results of examination of the archives no track of flood were noticed," told R. Ibraimov. He told that from the sanction of Office of Public Prosecutor the employees of financial police had made the search in the buildings of the bank and had seized the documents concerning the credit activities of the banking group, originals of assessed and accounting documents of the organizations which had received credits in the bank and also participated in the financial schemes of VTB. Thus, according to his data, during the search in the international billiard center "Sozvezdiye" in the office of A. Belyalov's brother were found the accounting documents concerning the firms affiliated with the bank. Two bags with the originals of accounting documents of the organizations affiliated with the bank were found on the garret of building of banking group - had continued R. Ibraimov, - at that part of documents was torn". At that he added that the administration of the bank had many times announced that the given organizations are not affiliated with the bank. Along with it, according to words of the first deputy chief of the financial police, bank's employees as early as before initiation of criminal case "actively started destroying documents of high security", and also tried to take out the originals of some documents from buildings of the bank group. Belyalov keeps on assuring that he is not guilty, whereas already now preliminary investigation reveals the facts saying the reverse," remarked R. Ibraimov, noting "If he is not guilty, then why to hide documents in every corner and actually destroy them?". Except this, according to the words of R. Ibraimov, the financial police had received the letter from the new administration of VTB, in which it was pointed on realization by A. Belyalov unlawful actions on withdrawal of bank's assets on the accounts of close relatives and affiliated companies. "It was noted in the letter that former workers of the bank with the knowledge of and by the order of Belyalov try to take out bank's resources to completely other structures, at that intending to transfer the property and buildings to other people so that the latter legalized them," told R. Ibraimov, adding that the financial police took required measures for suppression of such illegal actions. In this connection the list of affiliated companies was widened to 220. The measurements of arresting the property of newly found organizations are undertaking, informed R. Ibraimov. At the present time in relation to A. Belyalov is selected the preventive punishment in the form of house arrest. As it was informed in the last September the state agency of financial supervision (AFS) of the republic had informed about the critical situation, formed in VTB. AFS announced that it can recall the license from VTB, if state agency will not be satisfied with the plan of rehabilitation of bank, which now is developing by the new administration of the bank. On October 15, 2006 the prescheduled meeting of shareholders of Valut- Transit-bank JSC had taken place, on which were before time stopped the authorities of the former board of directors and was determined the new staff in the amount of 8 people for three years. The new board of directors is headed by Steven Lee Johnson. For correction of situation the new administration of VTB, in particular is depending on receiving from the government of republic the stabilization loan. Valut-Transit-Bank is middle size bank of Kazakhstan. As of August 1, 2006 it assets totaled KZT83899742 th., shareholders' equity - KZT23971704 th., net income for first seven months of the year totaled KZT1030959 th. [2006-11-02]