MOSCOW, December 16 (RAPSI) - A criminal investigation into a fraud involving prominent Russian art expert Yelena Basner, 58, has been completed, the case will be forwarded to a court, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

Basner is being investigated over a painting attributed to Boris Grigoryev, a well-known Russian artist of the first half of the 20th century. The painting which was allegedly examined by Basner in 2009 and sold for $250,000 was proven to be a fake in 2011.

Basner, a former employee of the Bukowskis auction house as well as the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, was detained by the Investigative Committee in February.

If convicted, Basner faces up to ten years in prison.

The arrest of the expert on the Russian avant-garde movement, who has vehemently denied guilt, sparked outrage in the Russian museum community.