KIEV, Jan. 28 - A pre-trial investigation has estimated the cost of state controlled assets allegedly misappropriated by former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko and another three former ministry officials at more than UAH 970,000.

The property owned by the suspects has been seized, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office said on Friday.

On January 26, Lutsenko was officially charged with conspiring to misappropriate a large amount of state owned assets and abuse of power, the Prosecutor General's Office said.