MOSCOW, March 26 - RAPSI. Counsel for Foreign Economic Activity Bank Deputy Chairman Anatoly Ballo has appealed for the reversal of the decision to open a criminal case against his client, the Kommersant daily reports on Monday referring to Ballo's lawyer.

According to the paper, the defense attorney filed a complaint with the Tverskoy District Court after the Interior Ministry's Investigative Department completed its investigation check.

Although the results of the inspection have not yet been published, the department said the inspectors did not find any serious drawbacks.

The ministry requested the Ballo case materials for review last week.

Investigators maintain that Ballo and his accomplices stole $14 million on September 24, 2008 as part of a loan provided to the Evraziyskiy company for the full acquisition of Yugvodokanal, the ministry reported on March 12.

Evraziyskiy is a water supply operator in southern Russia. VEB has been Evraziyskiy's major shareholder since 2006.

Investigators found that the stolen funds were placed in offshore companies' Swiss bank accounts.

Investigators charged Ballo with fraud. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

Ballo was detained by the security services, but the Tverskoy District Court later released him on bail.

Ballo continues working at the bank despite the investigation.