MOSCOW, November 13 - RAPSI. Federal prosecutors have appealed the verdict in their case against former federal investigator Andrei Grivtsov, who was acquitted in October of charges relating to a $15 million bribery scandal, the Moscow City Court spokesperson told RAPSI Tuesday.

The Supreme Court will hear the appeal.

During the trial, the jury unanimously acquitted Grivtsov and two other defendants in the case.

According to the prosecutor's office, Grivtsov - who worked at the time for Russia's Investigative Committee - led a criminal investigation in 2009 that culminated in a raid of Rosenergomash's Moscow offices. Rosenergomash specializes in the production of large-scale electrical machinery. Vladimir Palikhata, the company's president, was represented in the case by Moscow attorney Mikhail Vytnov.

Grivtsov then allegedly colluded with attorney Ruslan Parkin to elicit a $15 million bribe from Palikhata and Vytnov, who faced possible prosecution.
The scheme involved two other accomplices, one of whom was an Interior Ministry officer.

Palikhata turned to the police, who then took the matter in hand.

The suspects were accused of attempted large-scale bribe extortion, which is punishable by a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.