Russian banker sentenced to 7 years.

MOSCOW, November 20 (Itar-Tass) -- A Moscow district court sentenced
on Thursday a banker to seven years in prison and a fine of one million
rubles for illegal banking activities and abuse of office.
Former CEO of the New Economic Position Bank Boris Sokalsky was placed
in custody in March 2007 and his prison term will last since the date,
Moscow city court spokeswoman Anna Usacheva told Tass.
She added Sokalsky was acquitted of 99 crimes related to money and
securities counterfeiting.
The Investigation committee at the interior ministry said "over 62
billion rubles were placed into the shadow monetary turnover uncontrolled
by the state due to Sokalsky's actions". Thus, the former banker violated
the exclusive Russian right for financial regulation and impeded the major
function of the Central Bank to protect the national currency and ensure
its stability, the committee said.
-0-nec