MOSCOW, MAY 17 - RAPSI. Police officers detained in Moscow four employees of the Federal Agency for State Property Management suspected of an attempted commercial bribe amounting to $548.680, a source in the Moscow law enforcement authorities told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

"A deputy head from the Federal Agency for State Property Management and three heads from FT-Center's Moscow property department have been detained. They are suspected of attempting to get illegal remuneration for organizing the winning bid on the sale of property in Moscow," a source said.

According to investigators, the deputy head requested 17 million rubles ($548,675) from a commercial organization's representative, guaranteeing a winning bid at the auction.

"This was an auction organized by FT-Center to sell a federal property plot in Moscow at an initial price of circa 50 million rubles ($1.61 million)," the source said.

In early March, the firm's CEO gave the head from FT-Center's Moscow property department a package containing 13 million rubles ($419,575). The latter was detained shortly after this.

A criminal case has been initiated against the detained, charging them with attempted commercial bribery. They now face long-term imprisonment.

FT Center is a major state multi-profile company which develops business in federal property management.