The qualification of crimes and compliance with procedural law in one criminal case about embezzlement through abuse of authority: Expert opinion

Abstract

Expert opinion examines harm to property of an organization through abuse of power by managing authorities at the conclusion of transactions. The authors use the approach of legal doctrine and judicial practice. Conclusions: (1) theft of entrusted property, when used in relation to the powers conferred upon the property is subject to qualification in accordance with Article 160 of the Criminal Code, rather than as fraud; (2) a business arrangement without competitive bidding, when it is obligatory, including there are other signs of abuse, may constitute an offence under Article 201 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation; (3) damage caused by the organization to shares belonging to the State cannot be regarded as damage caused to the State; (4) the qualification of the offence as grave in the absence of any reasoning means that bringing charges is illegal and groundlessness, and (5) the inadmissibility of the detention of the accused in custody based on the gravity of the offence alone. Refs 6.