Ransom for Posh Car

March 17, 2011

Two Moscow police officers were detained Wednesday for allegedly requesting a 900,000 ruble ($31,000) bribe to return a stolen car to its lawful owner.

The officers were arrested purportedly accepting a 550,000 ruble installment on the bribe at the Mossoviet movie theater, a law enforcement source told RIA-Novosti.

The car, an Audi A8, sells new for about 4 million rubles.

A district spokeswoman identified the officers as Robert Gerne, 30, and Mikhail Litskevich, 27, Interfax reported.

A criminal case has been opened on attempted fraud charges, punishable with up to six years in prison.

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