12-27-2010 08:37 BJT
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A Russian judge is expected to read decision in court on Monday on jailed Russian petroleum tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The court will decide whether to keep him in jail, for up to six more years.
Khodorkovsky, the former Yukos Oil Company boss who was once Russia's richest man, was arrested in 2003 on fraud and tax evasion charges.
His prison sentence is set to end in October 2011. But prosecutors have asked for an additional term of six years, on charges of stealing 27 billion US dollars worth of oil, from 1998 through 2003.
The judge will begin announcing the verdict on Wednesday, but the results may not be known for weeks. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says the former Yukos chief can't expect an acquittal.
Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister, said, "A thief must be in jail. And according to a court ruling, Khodorkovsky is considered guilty of theft, quite a substantial one. We are talking about tax evasion and fraud amounting to billions of rubles. There is also personal tax evasion, which is very important."
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