Russian MP-on-the-run busted in Chile

A Russian regional parliament member, who's been on Interpol's wanted list since April 2008, has been detained after re-surfacing in Chile.

Sergey Zadnepryansky, 57, is accused of failing to repay $4 million worth of loans, borrowed from a Russian bank. He allegedly used front firms to get the money and embezzle it.

“The criminal case against Zadnepryansky lists nine more persons. The prosecution believes that the group is responsible for a number of counts of fraud and illegal entrepreneurship,” one of the investigators said, cited by Interfax agency.

The official was tracked down to Chile by Russian prosecutors, who asked the local Interpol bureau for assistance in arresting him, reports Kommersant daily.

He's reported to have spent a year working at a ceramics factory in the city of San Felipe, though local media suggest he actually owns it. He is now in custody in the capital Santiago waiting for a Russian extradition request to be considered by Chile authorities.

Zadnepryansky has held a local parliamentary seat in the Omsk region in south-western Siberia since late 2005, and is still a member despite his alleged criminal activities.