MOSCOW, September 28 - RAPSI. The court issued an arrest warrant for the general director of a state company charged with extorting money from his subordinates, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency.

Investigators opened a criminal case against the official on September 19. He was charged with corrupt business practices and extortion, which is punishable by up to 12 years in prison and a fine.

Investigators said the suspect extorted money from his subordinates, the division heads of the Mosavtokholod state transportation company, by threatening to displace them if he was not paid. The official allegedly extorted 315,000 rubles ($9,800) from July to September 2011. He also extorted the same sum from the tenants of the company's premises in exchange for the right to stay.

The official denied all charges and said he was slandered.