MOSCOW, June 30 (RAPSI) — The Moscow Khamovnichesky District Court sentenced Major General Alexander Melnikov, a senior officer of the Central Chief Directorate of the Interior Ministry, to 7 years in a strict regime colony in a case over attempted bribery on an especially large scale, RAPSI learned in the court on Thursday.

Additionally, Melnikov was fined 30 million rubles (about $571,000 at the current exchange rate), the RAPSI source said.

The general was found guilty of committing a crime defined by the national Criminal Code as an attempt to receive a bribe on an especially large scale.

Three other defendants in the case were given punishments ranging from 7.5 to 8 years in prison.

It follows from the case file that Melnikov was trying to get 30 million rubles for closing a criminal case against a certain Moscow businessperson.