Former Belneftekhim CEO sheds tears in court

Two out of three charges against Aliaksandr Baruski, the former chairman of the state-owned petrochemical company Belneftekhim, have been removed. He is now facing only embezzlement charges.

Barouski is being tried at the Supreme Court of Belarus. He gives controversial testimonies, especially as regards the missing $500,000.

During questioning in court, Aliaksandr Barouski testified that in 2006 one of businessmen offered him $500,000 for consultations. This money was to be wired to a bank account of Barouski's daughter. However, she was unable to withdraw this amount from a credit card in Vilnius or Kiev.

Prosecutors today read out Barouski's other testimonies dated August 2007. Barouski told investigators back then that he had borrowed $500,000 from a Riga-based friend and wanted to use this money to build a house. 

Interfax reports that Barouski has explained his controversial testimonies by the pressure from investigators in the first days after his arrest. When saying this, the former Belneftekhim CEO cried in a court room.