MOSCOW, December 29 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov) – Moscow's Preobrazhensky District Court detained until February 27 Dmitry Valenza, official from Russia's environmental watchdog Rosprirodnadzor, suspected of attempted fraud, spokesperson for the court told RAPSI on Thursday.

Another suspect, entrepreneur Rafis Kupkenov, was put under house arrest for the same term.

According to investigators, suspects were arrested on December 26 receiving part of funds during police operation. Valenza and Kupkenov admitted their guilt.

Investigators believe that in December 2016 suspects conspired to embezzle money from a head of Rosprirodnadzor’s Department for Central Federal District who was under internal investigation at that time. They allegedly planned to receive 15 million rubles ($250,000) from that person for help with results of investigation. Investigators added that suspects did not have power to make good on their promise which is why the case was classified as fraud.