First suspected of coal theft arrested in Mongolia

Battulgyn Ganhuyag, the former head of the Erdenes Tavan-Tolgoi state coal mining and export company, his relatives and several entrepreneurs were detained for two days after searches of their homes were carried out on the night of December 8, Khishgeegiin Nyambaatar.

This was informed by Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs of Mongolia.

During the special briefing, he said that the investigation into the theft of coal resumed after the meeting of the working group. The detentions took place on Thursday night, among the detainees was Battulgyn Ganhuyag. In addition, the wife of the former head of the company, sister and son-in-law, the head of the department of the state-owned company, are among the detainees. The heads and owners of two private organizations were also detained.

In early December, protests began in Mongolia, in Ulaanbaatar, disgruntled citizens stormed the Government Palace. The police dispersed the rioters , but they gathered again. The riots began with a corruption scandal over coal exported by the republic to China. Local residents believe that corrupt officials stole 6.5 million tons of coal worth $1.7 billion.