MOSCOW, September 4 (RAPSI, Olga Siverkina) – Moscow’s Basmanny District Court has extended for three months the detention of former Russian senator Alexander Sabadash, charged with the attempted embezzlement of 1.8 billion rubles ($48 million), RAPSI learnt in the court on Thursday.

Sabadash will remain in detention until December 8.

The investigation into the attempted embezzlement involving Arkhangelsk-based developer ES-Kontaktstroy and JSC Vyborgskaya Cellulose reportedly began several years ago. It is still ongoing.

Sabadash, believed to be the owner of Vyborgskaya Cellulose, is suspected of organizing a fraudulent VAT refund scheme, as a result of which ES-Kontaktstroy planned to receive over 1.8 billion rubles of public funds in 2010.

Sabadash was stripped of his seat in the Federation Council in 2006 after being accused of carrying out business activities, which senators are forbidden to do.