MOSCOW, September 1 (RAPSI) – Investigation into Dmitry Bezdelov, former head of the Federal Border Development Agency charged with embezzling over 1.17 billion rubles (about $18 million), has been completed, investigator Leonid Bogdanov said in the Moscow City Court on Thursday.

The accused and his lawyer began reading materials of the case comprising 81 volumes, Bogdanov added.

Attorney Anton Kozhemyakin noted in turn that his client cooperated with investigation and gave detailed testimony.

Investigators claim that Bezdelov, then head of the Federal Border Development Agency, conspired with a range of people to embezzle public funds allocated for the construction of the railway checkpoint “Adler” in 2009.  Bezdelov was charged with embezzlement and organizing a criminal gang with the use of his official position.

Bezdelov resigned from his post in October 2013 after a probe revealed inappropriate use of budget funds by the agency. He was arrested in Rome in October 2014 after he had been put on the international wanted list. Italy's court of appeals upheld the decision to extradite Bezdelov to Russia in October 2015. The Supreme Court left the judgment intact.