MOSCOW, February 12 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court which is currently hearing the case on abuse of power against Russia’s top anti-corruption official, Denis Sugrobov, has refused to dismiss prosecutor Petr Philipchuck and question him as a witness, lawyer Eduard Isetsky told RAPSI on Friday.

“Our motions were dismissed”, the lawyer said.

According to investigators, Sugrobov and his deputy Boris Kolesnikov tried to provoke a Federal Security Service (FSB) officer by offering him $10,000 a month for his protection. Sugrobov was charged with organizing a criminal group, abuse of power and bribery last May.

Kolesnikov was arrested in February 2014. In June, he jumped out of a window during questioning at the Investigative Committee. Later the Basmanny District Court said no evidence was found of assisted suicide.

In late August, Moscow’s Basmanny District Court seized assets owned by Sugrobov and Kolesnikov, which have been reportedly estimated at over 300 million rubles ($4.1 million).

Sugrobov, 39, is one of the youngest police generals. Kolesnikov was 36 when he was promoted to general.