Moscow:
A Russian court has sentenced an Indian national to six-and-half years in jail for defrauding the Moscow federal city government of more than 600 million rubles ($18 million).
The Zamoskvoretsky district court in Moscow awarded the sentence to Jitender Kumar Singla, a member of a group of Indians and Russians engaged in illegal activities, the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI) reported Thursday, citing the Russian interior ministry's Department for the Central Federal District.
The group registered more than 300 entities from 2009 to 2011 and took part in Moscow land and property auctions.
The group reportedly rigged auctions, fixed excessive rents for which their rivals could not bear to bid.
After subleasing the property, breaching lease agreements, the group never deposited the rentals with the government.