Chechnya's deputy president caught smuggling gold out of Turkey

ANTALYA - Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

Chechnya's deputy president, Emruddin Edelgiriyev, was caught Oct. 18 at Antalya’s airport allegedly attempting to smuggle a gold bullion weighing nearly 12 kilograms to Chechnya, Doğan news agency has reported.
 
Edelgiriyev and a companion were sent to court when he failed to provide any official documentation for the gold, which had raised questions at customs. The companion, Khasan Khakimov, said the gold been brought in from Chechnya and was now being taken back due to the costs of processing it in Turkey.

Khakimov told authorities that they had bypassed luggage search when the gold was brought in because of Edelgiriyev's diplomatic passport.
 
The gold was reportedly worth 1,249,000 Turkish Liras.

A private plane was arranged to take Edelgiriyev back to Chechnya while Khakimov was taken into custody. He was released following the court hearing, and returned to his country.
 
Prosecutors have demanded a sentence of between one and five years for each suspect in addition to a fine.