Moscow Court Hands Out Tough Sentences for Diamond Smuggling
June 02, 04
A Moscow court sentenced six people to long prison terms for smuggling rough diamonds reportedly worth several million dollars. The harshest sentence was given to Eli Katz, an Israeli, who got 11 years, reports Itar-Tass.
The Moscow City Court convicted Vladislav Kogan and Simon Khirshoren, Katz’s co-conspirators who both hold dual Russian and Israeli citizenship, to seven and a half years each to be served in a maximum-security prison.
In addition, two Russians, Alexander Kostenoi and Nikolai Petukhov were sentenced to 10 and a half years and five years, respectively. The sixth accused, Yelena Tikhomirova, was sentenced to four years probation.