Former governor of the Khabarovsk Territory Sergei Furgal, who is in Moscow under arrest for organizing murders and attempted murder of entrepreneurs, refused a pre-trial agreement with the investigation. This was reported by TASS on August 31, citing a source in law enforcement agencies.
It is noted that Furgal considered an offer from the investigator to plead guilty to pressure on him.
On Monday, August 31, at a meeting of the Moscow City Court, Furgal announced pressure on him in the pre-trial detention center. However, he did not explain his position. Lawyer Boris Kozhemyakin said that he is awaiting consideration of the petition to extend the measure of restraint for Furgal in the Moscow Basmanny Court in early September, where the accused will tell in detail about this.
The Moscow City Court also postponed consideration of two complaints by Furgal’s defense about the seizure of property in the case against him until September 21.
On August 17, the Basmanny Court of Moscow on August 17 arrested more than 3 million rubles and two Furgal cars as an interim measure. He argued, however, that most of the arrested funds from bank accounts and the money found during the search of his house belonged to his ex-wife Larisa Starodubova.
Furgal was detained on July 9. He is accused of organizing murders and attempted murders of entrepreneurs in the period from 2004 to 2005. A criminal case was initiated under the article “Organization of a criminal community”.
The case file refers to businessmen who were engaged in the business of selling ferrous and non-ferrous scrap.
The court on July 10 arrested Furgal until September 9. The meeting was held behind closed doors. According to the investigator, this was done in order to ensure the safety of the participants in the trial, who had already received threats. Currently, the ex-governor is in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center and does not admit his guilt.