MOSCOW, August 23 - RAPSI. Police have launched two more criminal cases against a high-ranking official within the Federal Service for Supervision of Environment, Technology, and Nuclear Management (Rostekhnadzor), the Interior Ministry reported on Tuesday.

According to earlier reports, Viktor Sharov, 46, was detained on suspicion of taking 400,000 rubles ($14,300) from the general director of two fisheries. A criminal case was opened against him on the charge of large-scale bribe-taking by a public official, which is punishable by up to 12 years in prison and a fine equal to 60 times the amount of the bribe.

"Two more acts of bribery by the official have been established," reads a report released by police on Tuesday.

Investigators believe that between December 2010 and January 2011 Sharov illegally took 220,000 rubles ($7,900) from other businessmen also engaged in fish breeding. He promised in exchange to terminate audits of their business and to extend the time they were allowed for remedying violations.

"Considering the newly discovered circumstances, Sharov is facing a harsher sentence - to be served in a penal colony," the police stated.

RAPSI News Service