By Simon Tomlinson and Will Stewart
Relatives claim victims' phones are answered by 'eastern Europeans', as rebel leader Igor Strelkov orders troops to hand over seized jewellery for 'defence fund'
At least one picture has emerged which appeared to show a ring being taken by a rebel from a body at the crash site.
A series of disturbing new allegations emerged today that added further weight to claims pro-Russian rebels looted the MH17 crash scene to sabotage the investigation and cash in on the disaster.
Toys in a bag are pictured at the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, in a field near the village of Grabove, in the Donetsk region
In the first, desperate relatives revealed how they had called the mobile phones of their loves ones - only for them to be answered by strangers with 'eastern European-sounding voices'.
After the initial shock, they immediately called the phone companies to shut down the accounts to prevent them being used, according to reports.
Poignant: Belongings lay scattered at the crash site near the village of Grabove as the first bodies from flight MH17 arrived in the Netherlands for identification
New evidence has also emerged that the rebels allegedly planned to sabotage the investigation by contaminating the site with parts from other planes.
The claims, made in Holland's De Telegraaf, adds fuel to reports that crucial evidence has been tampered with after the Malaysian Airlines flight was blown out of the sky, allegedly by the same group of separatists, killing 298 people.
New evidence has also emerged that the rebels allegedly planned to sabotage the investigation by contaminating the site with parts from other planes
UK intelligence chiefs claim they have uncovered evidence the insurgents also discussed removing bodies from the area and sending the black box data recorders to Moscow, according to Sky News sources in Whitehall.
Alistair Bunkall, Sky's Defence Correspondent, said: 'I think this will play into the fears that many people have that not all of the bodies will be returned, that parts of the plane have been tampered with in order to try and hide any evidence.
A toy belonging to a child who died in the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is pictured in a field near the village of Grabove, in the Donetsk region
'This is all a part of UK intelligence working with intelligence agencies around the world to try and build up a picture not only of what happened at the point of impact, but also what happened in the hours and days that followed on from that.'
Belongings of victims are pictured at the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in a field near Grabove
Meanwhile, an alleged decree by rebel commander Igor Strelkov appears to admit that the bodies of dead passengers were looted by pro-Russian rebels.
Wants jewellery for 'defence fund': An alleged decree by rebel commander Igor Strelkov (centre) appears to admit that the bodies of dead passengers on MH17 were looted by pro-Russian separatists
The order says that jewellery, watches and other valuables taken from bodies must be handed in to the 'defence fund' of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic by 8pm on Wednesday 23 July.
'Valuable items must be sent to the DPR Defence Fund': The alleged order (above) is apparently signed by rebel army commander Colonel Igor Strelkov and carries what appears to be an official stamp
The text of order number 432, pictured here, says in Russian: 'To all detachments of Donetsk People's Republic army, to soldiers and commanders who from 18 to 21 July 2014 in the area where the Boeing 777 of Malaysian airlines crashed and who possess personal belongings related to this airplane.
'Before 8 pm on 23 July 2014 you must give these things away to the headquarters of DPR army. Valuable items (watches, earrings, lockets and other jewellery) must be sent to the DPR Defence Fund.'
It is signed by rebel army commander Colonel Igor Strelkov, and carries what appears to be an official stamp.
Styled like other orders from Strelkov, its veracity could not be immediately established.
But if true, it will be seen as scandalous that the rebels are cashing in on the dead victims of the Malaysian plane widely believed to have been shot down by the same pro-Moscow separatists.
Rather than ordering any looted possessions to be returned to the families, it demands they are taken to Strelkov's headquarters so they can be used to fund the insurgency campaign he is conducting.
The alleged order has been posted on social media websites in Ukraine and Russia.
If true, it would confirm claims by Kiev officials that the bodies were looted.
Hunt for clues? A rebel fighter is filmed rifling through the bag of one of the 298 MH17 crash victims
A Ukrainian government advisor Anton Gerashchenko has claimed: 'After terrorists looters stole all the cash, jewellery, mobile phones and credit cards of passengers of ill-fated Boeing - they took up their favourite deal - gathering of scrap metal. Aluminum from which made the plane is expensive.'
Two days ago, Andrei Lysenko, spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, claimed: 'The cynicism of these gangsters has no limits.
'According to our information, apart from picking up valuable personal belongings of the passengers, terrorists are using credit cards of the victims.'
A man looks at the debris scattered at the crash site of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17
However, it is unclear that relatives have complained about this, a point the Russian media has made strongly in alleging these are slurs from the Ukrainian side.
'Gerashchenko said in an interview that he had information that the rebels were cashing the victims credit cards. No complaints from relatives or bank records were produced, of course,' said a commentary from RIA Novosti news agency in Moscow.
The alleged order has been posted on social media websites in Ukraine and Russia.
If true, it would confirm claims by Kiev officials that the bodies were looted.
Hunt for clues? A rebel fighter is filmed rifling through the bag of one of the 298 MH17 crash victims
A Ukrainian government advisor Anton Gerashchenko has claimed: 'After terrorists looters stole all the cash, jewellery, mobile phones and credit cards of passengers of ill-fated Boeing - they took up their favourite deal - gathering of scrap metal. Aluminum from which made the plane is expensive.'
Two days ago, Andrei Lysenko, spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, claimed: 'The cynicism of these gangsters has no limits.
'According to our information, apart from picking up valuable personal belongings of the passengers, terrorists are using credit cards of the victims.'
A man looks at the debris scattered at the crash site of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17
However, it is unclear that relatives have complained about this, a point the Russian media has made strongly in alleging these are slurs from the Ukrainian side.
'Gerashchenko said in an interview that he had information that the rebels were cashing the victims credit cards. No complaints from relatives or bank records were produced, of course,' said a commentary from RIA Novosti news agency in Moscow.
Long, sad journey home: Dutch police watch as a plane touches down carrying the bodies of crash victims from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 at Eindhoven Airport
Strelkov is alleged by Kiev to be a serving colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence.
He is accused of fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine, and was earlier based in Crimea when the Black Sea peninsula was annexed by Russia.
His 'order' is revealed on the day when the first bodies are scheduled to arrive back in Holland.
He is accused of fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine, and was earlier based in Crimea when the Black Sea peninsula was annexed by Russia.
His 'order' is revealed on the day when the first bodies are scheduled to arrive back in Holland.
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