MOSCOW, December 15 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) – Head of Russia’s Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin has launched a criminal case against former judge of the Tambov Regional Commercial Court, Sergei Suchkov, who is suspected of receiving large-scale bribe, official website for the Committee reads on Thursday.

According to investigators, on March 1 ex-judge issued ruling in a dispute between two construction companies and ordered one firm to pay another one 8 million rubles ($130,000) of debt. Two weeks later Suchkov offered debtor company to postpone recovery of funds for 200,000 rubles ($3,250).

On the next day after the agreement was made between the judge and the company Suchkov postponed recovery. One week later during meeting with debtor company he said that he cancelled ruling on securing of creditor firm’s claim and asked for additional 100,000 rubles ($1,625).

Law enforcement of the Tambov Region arrested the suspect when he was receiving a 200,000 rubles bribe. According to the Investigative Committee, in May Suchkov lost his judge status. In September, the High Qualification Board of Judges agreed to launch a criminal case against the suspect.