Russian director jailed for $1.5M state land fraud scheme
A Russian court has convicted Alexander Sergeyev, a director of a cadastral survey company, on 32 counts of fraud. The case involved a multi-million-ruble scheme to illegally seize state-owned land using forged documents. His accomplice now faces a separate trial for their role in the operation.
Between 2017 and April 2024, Sergeyev and an unnamed partner targeted undeveloped plots in Nizhny Novgorod and the Kstovo district. They exploited gaps in ownership records, registering the land under the names of unsuspecting proxies. Some of these properties were later sold for profit.
The total financial damage to the state budget reached 140 million rubles (around $1.5 million). Despite the evidence, Sergeyev maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. A judge ultimately sentenced him to six years in prison. The accomplice's case has since been split into a different legal proceeding. Authorities have not reported any further instances of similar land fraud in Russia since 2017.
Sergeyev's conviction brings an end to a years-long fraud operation that cost the state millions. The case highlights vulnerabilities in land registration systems, though no additional schemes of this kind have been uncovered. His accomplice will now be tried separately for their involvement.
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