MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI) – The Presnensky District Court in Moscow has extended until January 31, 2016 the detention of head of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Alexander Reimer who stands accused of embezzling 3 billion rubles (about $45.4 million) allocated for the purchase of electronic monitoring bracelets, RAPSI reported from the court on Thursday.

Investigators have also charged Reimer with abuse of power.

The hearing was held behind closed doors at the defense attorney’s request. Lawyer Tatyana Nozhkina explained that “confidential medical information” was in the case materials.

The court previously extended the arrest of Reimer’s former deputy Nikolai Krivolapov until January 31 and of private company director Nikolai Martynov until January 30.

The investigation into this case has been extended until February 28.

In May, the court seized 15 million rubles (over $227,000) in assets belonging to Reimer.

The probe into the case was opened after two employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) were detained on suspicion of extorting $2.6 million from a businessman in connection with the purchase of ankle bracelets.

Charges have been brought against Reimer, Krivolapov, director of FSIN’s Information and Technical Support Center Viktor Opredelyonov, and the director of a private company, Nikolai Martynov.

After Reimer resigned from FSIN in 2012, a 10 billion ruble ($151.4mln) fraud was uncovered at the service. Reimer has denied his guilt.

Alexander Reimer, 57, was chief of the Interior Ministry Department in the Samara Region from April 2006 to 2009. In August 2009, he was appointed FSIN director and in 2010 promoted to the rank of Colonel-General of the Interior. He was dismissed from FSIN on June 26, 2012.