MOSCOW, April 6 (RAPSI) – Former president of the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF), Yulia Anikeyeva, has not admitted guilt in embezzlement of 44 million rubles (about $786,000), RAPSI learnt on Thursday in the Chertanovsky District Court of Moscow.

On Thursday, the court will hear testimony of prosecution witnesses.

According to investigators, chief accountant of the RBF, Mikhail Kocharyan, was an accomplice of Anikeyeva. He died in October 2016 after extended illness. His relatives objected to termination of his criminal prosecution without Kocharyan being rehabilitated in court.

A criminal case was launched against Anikeyeva in December 2015 based on the results of financial audit conducted at the RBF after a change of management. Anikeyeva and Kocharyan were charged with large-scale fraud conducted by a group of persons on preliminary conspiracy and with the use of their work position.

Investigators believe that between February 20, 2014 and August 24, 2015 Anikeyeva and her accomplices, including accountant Yelena Silina, embezzled over 44 million rubles by signing fictitious civil law contracts with private entrepreneurs. Money was allegedly cashed in and transferred to Silina who in her turn transferred it Kocharyan.

In March, the court found Silina guilty of aiding embezzlement and sentenced her to 3.5 years in prison.