MOSCOW, February 19 (RAPSI) – The Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction confirmed prison sentence against Dmitry Zakharchenko, former Russian anti-corruption official, RAPSI learnt from the court’s press service.

Zakharchenko was sentenced in June 2019 by the Moscow City Court to 12 and a half years in prison after he had been found guilty of corruption charges.

However, the court acquitted him of a $800,000 bribery count. The court held that these charges against the defendant were not proven. Investigators claimed that in 2014 Zakharchenko and his accomplice initiated audit of restaurant business. The check was completed when Zakharchenko received $800,000 from a businessman, they insisted.

Moreover, investigators claim that in 2016, he warned a familiar woman about forthcoming searches as part of a fraud case and organized taking of all documents and office equipment out to prevent their seizure.

Ex-Russian anti-corruption official was arrested on September 8, 2016. During searches at his sister’s apartment law enforcement officers found around 9 billion rubles ($140 million). He denied any relation to the seized funds.