ST. PETERSBURG, January 28 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) – A Chinese citizen having in Russia the status of a lawyer and registered with the Baltic Bar Association of St. Petersburg has been detained on charges of robbery and abduction of his compatriots, the United press service of the regional courts informs RAPSI.

A district court in the city said the Chinese citizen is to stay in detention until March 20; five lawyers were employed to defend him, the statement reads.

There are four other defendants in the case, all Chinese citizens as well.

According to the police, the victims of the crimes were three students of St. Petersburg higher education establishments, whom the defendants allegedly beat, stole their properties and money worth in total 300,000 rubles ($4,000 at the current exchange rate) and demanded to pay a debt in the amount of 1 million rubles ($13,000).

Investigators believe the defendants are members of an organized ethnic community monitoring that guides led tourists from Eastern Asia only to certain restaurants and shops. One of the victims showed such tourists more affordable and inexpensive facilities; therefore the debt, investigators allege.