MOSCOW, March 27 (RAPSI) – Investigators on Wednesday filed a motion with court seeking detention for ex-Russian Minister for Open Government affairs Mikhail Abyzov charged with 4-billion-ruble ($62 million) embezzlement and organizing a gang, the Investigative Committee’s press service told journalists.

A court was also asked to detain alleged accomplices of the former minister, according to the statement.

Investigators claim that between April 2011 and November 2014, Abyzov, the owner of several offshore companies, organized and headed a criminal group. The defendant along with his accomplices allegedly embezzled 4 billion rubles from Novosibirsk Region’s Siberian Energy Company and Regional Electrical Services generation and transmission corporations and transferred the money abroad.

Abyzov was arrested when returned from abroad. He pleads not guilty.