MOSCOW. July 24 (Interfax-AVN) - The Moscow Military Garrison Court started to announce its verdict in the case of former Defense Ministry chief financier Colonel General Georgy Oleinik on Thursday.
An Interfax correspondent reported that 20 minutes into the court session, the defendant developed heart problems. The verdict's announcement was stopped and a doctor was called to the courtroom. The court has now been indefinitely adjourned.
The Central Military Prosecutor's Office charged Oleinik with abuse of office in selling Defense Ministry domestic bonds to Voenbank at lower prices. The state lost USD60m as a result of his dealings.
The defendant pleaded not guilty, saying he had acted on instructions from then-Defense Minster Igor Sergeyev aimed at saving Voenbank from bankruptcy following the 1998 financial crisis.
During his testimony, Sergeyev admitted to giving instructions on the bank's financial rehabilitation, but did not specify "how to do this."
Oleinik was previously convicted of abuse of office in authorizing the transfer of USD450m to Ukraine as payment for construction materials intended for the Russian Defense Ministry. Only some of these supplies arrived in 1996-98.
The Moscow Garrison Military Court sentenced him to three years in jail, which were later reduced to a two-year sentence under the Moscow Military District Court's ruling. Oleinik was then amnestied.