New investigator drops US$342M embezzlement case against Russia’s ex ‘banana king’
A US$342-million embezzlement case involving the former head of Russia-based JFC, Vladimir Kekhman, has reportedly been terminated. 
Kekhman had been allegedly linked to a multi-billion ruble theft from the Bank of Moscow dating back to 2010, when JFC Group was Russia’s largest fruit importer.
Website Crime Russia this week reported a new investigator with Russia’s Interior Ministry has now ended the case.
However, there have been reports that the Prosecutor General’s Office is now verifying the legality of the decision.
The criminal prosecution of Kekhman and two top managers, Andrey Afanasyev and Yuliya Zakharova was terminated on Nov. 14, the story reported.
The criminal charges were reportedly dropped for “lack of corpus delicti.” Travel restrictions were also said to have been lifted.
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