MOSCOW, September 26 (RAPSI, Nikolay Merkulov) – Prosecutor has demanded a 6-year prison term for ex-president of the Russian Basketball Federation (RBF) Yulia Anikeyeva, who stands charged with embezzlement of 44 million rubles (about $766,000 at the current exchange rate), RAPSI reports from Moscow’s Chertanovsky District Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor also asked the court to sentence alleged accomplice of Anikeyeva, chief accountant of the RBF, Mikhail Kocharyan, to 6.5 years in prison posthumously.

Kocharyan 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.

Anikeyeva has pleaded not guilty.

In March 2017, the court found Silina guilty of aiding embezzlement and sentenced her to 3.5 years in prison.