Former Tajik Aluminium smelter director flees to avoid prosecution

The former director of the Tajik Aluminium Plant, Abduqodir Ermatov, and the company's chief accountant are on the run after an audit of the smelter showed financial discrepancies. Ermatov, who held his position at the smelter between 1992 and 2004, was also deputy minister of the economy and trade until recently. The smelter, which last year produced 358kt of primary aluminium, had outstanding debts to overseas companies of $160m, including $140m of open letters of credit, the audit found. A criminal case has been launched, and an investigation is under way. (Metals Insider - 04/19/05)