A former Russian Defense Ministry official has been sentenced to five years in a penal colony in a high-profile corruption case.
Yevgeniya Vasliyeva was found guilty on eight charges including fraud, money laundering, and abusing her authority, according to the Russian Legal Information Agency.
Vasiliyeva had worked as an aide to former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
Four others who worked with her at the state-run Oboronservis holding received sentences, the longest being four years and three months.
They had faced allegations that the contractor, Oboronservis, sold off property cheaply, often to well-connected insiders.
As a result, the state was deprived of an estimated 3 billion rubles ($60 million).
Vasilyeva, 36, had pleaded not guilty and state prosecutors asked for a suspended sentence.
It is rare in Russia for a judge to hand out a tougher sentence that what the prosecution demand.
Based on reporting by Reuters and rapsinews.com
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