MOSCOW, February 2 (RAPSI) – Moscow’s Presnensky District Court will continue the preliminary hearing of a 1.4 billion-ruble ($19 million) bribery case against convicted ex-police colonel Dmitry Zakharchenko and his alleged accomplices on February 15, the court’s press service told RAPSI on Tuesday.

Other defendants in the case are Valery Markelov, Vasily Kritinin and Victor Belevtsov. Depending on their alleged role in the crime they are charged with receiving a bribe, mediation in bribery and bribegiving. Their detention was extended until July 21.

Three other personal allegedly involved are on the international wanted list.

According to the investigation, between 2007 and 2016, Zakharchenko systematically received bribes from an organized group controlling several companies not involved in real business activities but managed funds deposited on their bank accounts by conducting illegal bank transactions for their purpose.

In total, Zakharchenko received over 1.4 billion rubles in bribes, investigators claim.

In June 2019, Zakharchenko was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison and a 117 million-ruble (about $1.7 million) fine after he had been found guilty of corruption charges and obstruction of justice. The former policeman still does not admit guilt.

However, the court acquitted him of an $800,000 bribery count. The court held that these charges against the defendant were not proven. Investigators claimed that in 2014 Zakharchenko and his accomplice initiated audit of restaurant business. The check was completed when Zakharchenko received $800,000 from a businessman, they insisted.

Ex-Russian anti-corruption official was arrested on September 8, 2016. During searches at his sister’s apartment law enforcement officers found around 9 billion rubles ($123 million at the current exchange rate). He denied any relation to the seized funds.