An officer in the anti-corruption unit of the Russian police has been detained on suspicion of fraud, Moscow's Investigative Committee website reported Friday.
The senior security officer from the Chief Directorate of Economic Security and Combating Corruption had allegedly received 3.5 million rubles ($54,600) in September and October for deliberating failing to detect irregularities in a commercial firm's financial and economic audits.
Along with the officer, the mediator responsible for transferring the money was also detained.
If the court finds the officer guilty, he will be fired from the police force and suffer legal punishment. His superiors will also be subject to disciplinary action, a Moscow police press officer told Interfax news agency.
On Oct. 24, three policemen and a mediator were detained on suspicion of accepting 2.5 million ($39,000) rubles from a karaoke club owner. In exchange, the police officers allegedly promised the businessman their protection, Russia's Investigative Committee reported at a time.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.