In Arkhangelsk, a 47-year-old worker at a car service facility faced a conviction for embezzlement on a notably large scale, according to the district attorney’s office. The case centers on funds paid under OSAGO, which the defendant allegedly diverted from 2019 to 2020, involving 34 car owners and Alfastrakhovanie JSC, as well as the director of the Regional College of Economics and Law.
Authorities report that the offender was employed by Transavtoservice LLC and Mosservis+ car service. He entered into repair contracts for crashed vehicles, accepted the vehicles, and then failed to perform the repairs. Instead, he allegedly appropriated the money paid by victims under OSAGO agreements for insured events, effectively pocketing funds that were meant for vehicle repairs and related claims.
The aggregate amount taken was alleged to exceed 1.8 million rubles. As a result, the individual was sentenced to two years and one month in prison, despite having pleaded not guilty at trial. The verdict reflects the seriousness of embezzlement involving insurance funds and the breach of trust that harms multiple vehicle owners and partnering organizations.
This case adds to a broader pattern where individuals working in automotive service networks misuse client funds tied to mandatory insurance schemes. It underscores the importance of rigorous oversight in repair shops, verification of completed work, and strict accounting controls for payments processed under OSAGO.
In related timelines, authorities noted a prior incident involving a Mitsubishi driver in Moscow who was misled after being signaled to pull over on suspicion of needing a hood check, with a purported offer to assist with repairs. This earlier report illustrates how deceptive tactics surrounding vehicle maintenance can result in financial harm to drivers, prompting ongoing vigilance by law enforcement and consumer protection agencies.
Experts emphasize that such offenses typically involve a breach of trust where cash flows are diverted rather than used for legitimate repair work. The case in Arkhangelsk demonstrates how investigators trace payments, examine contract records, and verify ownership and insurance claims to establish a pattern of fraud across multiple victims.
From a legal perspective, embezzlement of insurance funds is treated as a serious offense that carries prison sentences and civil recovery considerations. Courts weigh the amount involved, the number of victims, the defendant’s role, and whether there was premeditation or deception. The Arkhangelsk decision aligns with authorities’ efforts to deter similar misconduct by service providers and to reassure customers that insurers and repair networks take such cases seriously.
For residents and car owners, the episode serves as a reminder to monitor repair invoices closely, demand clear documentation of services performed, and verify that OSAGO payments correspond to concrete repairs rather than receiving funds that disappear from project records. Keeping receipts, tracking work orders, and maintaining open communication with insurers and repair shops can help reduce risk in future claims.
As investigations continue and sentencing follows, the district attorney’s office notes the importance of accountability for those who manage other people’s funds in the automotive services sector. The outcome in Arkhangelsk reinforces expectations that fraud involving insurance payments will face substantial penalties and careful judicial consideration. [Source: district attorney’s office]