MOSCOW, April 24 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court on Wednesday upheld extension of detention for the former Russian anti-corruption official Dmitry Zakharchenko charged with taking bribes until July 24, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

The court dismissed the defendant’s appeal to place him under house arrest.

Oral arguments are expected to be presented on May 15.

According to investigators, in 2014, Zakharchenko and his accomplice received $800,000 from a restaurant businessman. Initially, they demanded 5 million rubles ($75,000). In 2015, they allegedly demanded from that businessman a 50% discount card of his restaurants, and therefore the defendant saved over 3.5 million rubles during bill payment.

Moreover, investigators claim that in 2016, he warned a familiar woman about forthcoming searches as part of a fraud case and organized taking of all documents and office equipment out to prevent their seizure.

Zakharchenko was arrested on September 8, 2016, on suspicion of taking a 7-million-ruble (about $105,000) bribe. During searches at his sister’s apartment law enforcement officers found around 9 billion rubles ($140 million). He denied any relation to the seized funds.