Russian official accused of dismantling and selling a 50 km road
The Department Head of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Komi Republic, Alexander Protopopov, was arrested on suspicion of dismantling and selling a 50 kilometer (31 mile) road in the northern Komi Republic of Russia.
TASS reported that police believe that Protopopov oversaw the dismantling of the road’s 7,000 concrete slaps over the course of a year, selling them to a construction company, according to Vladimir Markin, representative of the Federal Penitentiary Service.
Officials believe that the theft will cost the Russian state approximately 6 million rubles ($79,000).
Several other government officials are also under investigation, as well as the owner of the construction company that purchased the concrete slabs.
Protopopov was charged with theft of government property during the performance of official duties. He could spend up to 10 years in prison if found guilty
According to Radio Svoboda, as the Head of the Prison Service in the Komi Republic from 2010 to 2015, Protopopov received several awards including a medal for creating "spiritual unity".
Komi is a large northern republic with significant natural resources including coal, oil, natural gas, gold, diamonds and timber.