COMPETITION OFFENCES LEAD TO CRIMINAL CASES

Materials collected by Novosibirsk OFAS laid the foundation of several criminal proceedings

On 3 June 2019, a criminal case was opened against a former top executive of the National Medical Research Centre named after Academician Evgeny Meshalkin and his spouse under Article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (appropriation or embezzlement).

Earlier Novosibirsk OFAS found that “FITO Company” Ltd., “Terra” Ltd. and Meshalkin National Medical Research Centre had formed a bid-rigging cartel.

The anticompetitive agreement was implemented throughout 2016-2017 when the cartel participants determined in advance and coordinated between themselves who was going to win auctions and the threshold for the contract price reduction.

Executing the anticompetitive agreement resulted in maintaining prices at 437 open electronic auctions for supplying medicine, medical products, food products (for post-surgery nourishment) and rendering services on carriage of pharmaceuticals while the sum of the contracts exceeded 500 million RUB.

Novosibirsk OFASreported the offence to the Chief Department of the Ministry of Interior in the Novosibirsk region.

A criminal case is opened under Clause “c” Part 2 Article 178 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Indictments are brought in against Directors of “FITO Company” Ltd. and “Terra” Ltd. during pre-trial investigation.

Another criminal case is investigated against Deputy Research Director of Meshalkin National Medical Research Centre, who is suspected of stealing 1.3 billion RUB in the course of procurements for the needs of the clinic.