Chernousov Aleksei

Chernousov Aleksei

Biography

2020

Arrest in the case of embezzlement in public procurement in the Tula region

In August 2020, the Basmanny Court of Moscow arrested Alexei Chernousov. The owner and CEO of Smart Delta Systems, a company engaged in the development of medical IT systems, is suspected of complicity in embezzlement in the implementation of the informatization program in the regional health care system (part 5 of article 33 and part 4 of article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Accounts and cars of Smart Delta Systems, SDS Plus and SDS Consulting, owned by Chernousov, have been arrested.

Smart Delta Systems implemented a project to modernize healthcare in the Tula region and signed three contracts for 16.7, 29.5 and 30.1 million rubles with the Committee on Innovation and Informatization of the Tula Region.

In 2020, a case was initiated on embezzlement when concluding contracts for the implementation of work on the creation of an original health information system of the Tula region.

The former chairman of the Committee on Innovation and Informatization of the Tula Region Artur Contrabayev is also taking place in this case, against whom a separate criminal case was initiated on suspicion of unreasonable spending of budget funds as part of the implementation of the "Program for the Modernization of Health Care of the Tula Region." The damage is estimated at 13 million rubles.

In July 2020, Artur Contrabayev was charged and sent under house arrest, while Alexei Chernousov was transferred to a pre-trial detention center. The milder conditions for the arrest of Contrabayev, according to preliminary data, are associated with his state of health.

The next meeting in the Moscow City Court - to appeal the preventive measure - is scheduled for August 17, 2020.

Smart Delta Systems told Vademec that this trial will not affect the supply of its medical IT systems and will not affect its activities and cooperation with customers.^[1]

Smart Delta Systems on the arrest of the general director: We consider the initiation of a criminal case unfounded

On August 17, 2020, the Moscow City Court upheld the decision of the Basmanny Court, which in July made a decision to send Alexei Chernousov to a pre-trial detention center. In this regard, Smart Delta Systems issued an official statement.

We regret and do not understand what the court was guided by, leaving under arrest an entrepreneur who did not hide from the investigation and contributed in every possible way to all investigative measures. Therefore, the defense is going to appeal the court ruling in the cassation instance of the court, "the company said in a statement to TAdviser.

Smart Delta Systems says that they consider the very fact of initiating a criminal case against Alexei Chernousov unfounded. Stepan Lebedenko, director of regional development at Smart Delta Systems, claims that all obligations under state contract No. 2013-1 have been fulfilled in full, and says that this is confirmed by the statement of the state customer to the investigation and the signed acts of acceptance of work.

The regional health information system of the Tula region, created on the basis of our decisions, is one of the best among other regions in the country and successfully operates. That is why delegations from other regions come to the Tula region to study and adopt advanced experience, - notes Stepan Lebedenko.

Chernousov's lawyer Oleg Nikulenko claims that the case does not contain any evidence at all that his client conspired with any of the customer's representatives.

There is no testimony of witnesses, nor data of operational-search measures. The investigation relies on the conclusion of the examination, which has already been denied by independent experts, - quoted by Oleg Nikulenko in the official statement of Smart Delta Systems.

Smart Delta Systems added that they believe in the innocence of the general director and hope for "an early resolution of the misunderstanding."

The company also assures that the current situation will not affect the supply of medical information systems in any way and will not affect the current activities of Smart Delta Systems. Sales and support are carried out by the company's dealers ("Programs and Technologies," "MedIs Plus," "MedInfoTech," "iT Systems," "Smart-Soft"). All obligations to customers will be fulfilled within the agreed time frame, assured in Smart Delta Systems.

Completion of the investigation in the case of embezzlement in public procurement in the Tula region

In September 2020, the investigation was completed in the case in which Alexey Chernousov is being held. In November, he was extended for three months in custody. The businessman's lawyer then said that the investigators petitioned to extend the arrest, since they did not have time to familiarize the defense and the accused with the case materials within the time frame established by law.

2021: House arrest in the case of embezzlement of state funds

On February 19, 2021, he sent Alexei Chernousov under house arrest in the case of embezzlement of state funds in the development of IT systems for the Ministry of Health of the Tula Region. The founder and CEO of Smart Delta Systems was in jail for about six months.

The transfer of Chernousov to house arrest is reported in the case card on the official portal of the courts of general jurisdiction of Moscow. The prosecution asked for the detention to be extended, but the judge denied the request.

Arrest for an even longer period of time is possible only in exceptional cases and with a particularly serious crime, - said Alexei Chernousov's lawyer Alexei Tokarev.

The Moscow court sent under house arrest the head of the developer of medical IT systems Alexei Chernousov in the case of embezzlement of state funds

Also, according to him, one of the factors that contributed to the satisfaction of the defense's petition for transfer to house arrest was the businessman's housing in Moscow. Chernousov is expected to stay under house arrest for three months. By February 20, 2021, the criminal case has not yet been transferred to the prosecutor and is at the stage of familiarization with the materials, said the lawyer of the head of Smart Delta Systems.

The main person involved in this criminal case - the former chairman of the Committee on Innovation and Informatization of the Tula Region Arthur Contrabayev - by February 20, 2021 is under house arrest. A criminal case was initiated against him under Part 1 of Art. 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (abuse of office) on the fact of unreasonable spending of 13 million rubles of budget funds during the implementation of the program for the modernization of health care.^[2]

The period 2019-2020. surpassed all past times in the number of arrested celebrities of the IT industry. Some of them have been under house arrest since their arrest, and some have been in jail for long months while the investigation and trial are underway, even after repeated attempts to get a milder measure of restraint. TAdviser closely monitors the development of the most resonant criminal cases, and industry associations are developing measures to mitigate pressure. Read more in a separate article.

2023: Criminal conviction

On May 23, 2023, the Central District Court of Tula sentenced the former Minister of Informatization of the Tula Government Artur Contrabayev and Alexei Chernousov, who is being held with him in one case, in a criminal case. The latter court gave 3 years in prison and a fine of 200 thousand rubles, and also established a ban on activities related to state contracts. Read more here.

2024: Exemption from punishment

On February 21, 2024, the Tula Regional Court changed the verdict of the Central District Court of Tula against the founder and general director of Smart Delta Systems Alexei Chernousov and the former chairman of the Committee on Innovation and Informatization of the region Artur Contrabayev. In accordance with the new decree, they are exempted from punishment for embezzlement in the digitalization of the health care system.

The case of embezzlement on an especially large scale was considered for more than two years and ended with a conviction against Chernousov and Contrabayev in accordance with Part 4 of Art. 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. However, the convicts did not admit their guilt and appealed to the court of appeal, expressing disagreement with the verdict. They asked to overturn the court's decision and issue an acquittal. At the same time, the state prosecutor in the appeal, on the contrary, asked to tighten the sentence imposed and expand the list of interim measures.

Unsplash

Having considered the case file, the court of appeal changed the verdict of the Central District Court, excluding two who did not find confirmation of the episode of the crime. At the same time, the amount of material damage caused by these persons was reduced.

In accordance with the new resolution, Chernousov and Contrabayev are released from the punishment imposed by the court of first instance "in connection with the expiration of the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution." In addition, taking into account the new circumstances, changes were made to the wording of the verdict in terms of confiscation of property. The rest of the previous verdict was left unchanged. Contrabayev is deprived of the right to hold positions in the public service related to the exercise of the functions of a representative of power, organizational, administrative and administrative powers for a period of three years. Chernousov for the same period of time will not be able to conclude and execute state contracts in the field of software development.^[3]

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