DHAKA: Russian investigators on Thursday brought criminal charges against former defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who was fired a year ago in a major corruption scandal.

The once influential minister was charged with negligence for ordering the refurbishment of a private holiday residence in southern Russia and the building of a road to it, said the Investigative Committee, which probes major criminal cases.

Serdyukov said he ordered the works to ‘allegedly create a recreation facility for the defence ministry’, the committee said in a statement, reports The Straits Times.

But ‘the road that was built could be used only by owners and visitors’ of the Zhitnoye residence the committee said, adding that the works cost 56 million rubles in public funds.

BDST: 1829 HRS, NOV 28, 2013