MOSCOW, September 19 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Lieutenant General Denis Sugrobov, who headed the Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department at the Interior Ministry, against the extension of his detention, RAPSI learnt in the court on Friday.

Sugrobov will remain in detention until February 14. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to relieve Sugrobov of his duties at the Interior Ministry on February 21.

Sugrobov reportedly tendered his resignation after the Russian Investigative Committee and the Federal Security Service (FSB) searched offices of four of his subordinates. Bribe extortion and power abuse cases were launched against them. On May 15, Sugrobov was charged with organizing a criminal gang, power abuse and bribery.

According to investigators, Sugrobov and his deputy Boris Kolesnikov offered an officer of the Federal Security Service (FSB) $10,000 a month for his protection.

Kolesnikov was arrested in February. No charges had been filed against him when he jumped out of a window during questioning at the Investigative Committee in June. 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. The seized property has been reportedly estimated at over 300 million rubles (app. $8 million).