Investigators are searching the Moscow offices of a Russian road bridge construction company suspected of embezzling almost $30 million allocated by a Gazprom subsidiary for the construction of a highway in Siberia.

The Mostostroi-13 company was involved in the construction of bridges and other infrastructure facilities at a highway in Western Siberia's Yamal-Nenets Autonmous Area in 2008-2010. The work was sponsored by Gazprom's subsidiary Gazpromtrans, Vladimir Markin, spokesman for Russia's Investigative Committee said.

A criminal case has been initiated against the company's director general, Vladimir Gorshkov, as well as against Mikhail Cherepanov, the head of the Sigma company also involved in the construction, and their alleged accomplices who are believed to have embezzled over 843 million rubles ($29.8 million), Markin said.

Searches are also under way in offices of the Mostostroi-13 company's affiliated firms, he added.

MOSCOW, March 23 (RIA Novosti)