The former head of the Transnistrian customs service Yuri Ghervaziuk was sentenced by the self-proclaimed Transnistrian authorities to ten years behind bars for abuse of power and fined 3.5 million Transnistrian rubles, IPN reports.

The local press reported that Yuri Ghervaziuk employed corruption schemes at the plant “Biohim” and avoided paying taxes. He was also found guilty of giving bribe for illegally exporting alcoholic drinks. The sentence pronounced by the ordinary court can be appealed within ten days.

This February, Yuri Ghervaziuk was reportedly stopped by persons dressed in police uniforms on a national road in Anenii Noi district. The Ministry of the Interior said then that it didn’t possess information about this case. Also then, the Transnistrian press reported, with reference to persons close to Ghervaziuk, that he was kidnaped and the new local administration controlled by the Transnistrian oligarchs of the “Sheriff” holding this way probably settled an old score with Yuri Ghervaziuk because he last year revealed that “Sheriff” didn’t pay about 1 billion in import duties and taxes into the Transnistrian budget during six years.