MOSCOW, September 5 - RAPSI. Former prosecutor Roman Nishchemenko, charged with accepting bribes in exchange for illegal gambling protection, has been released, according to a Kommersant daily report on Wednesday.

In August investigators completed their probe into Nishchimenkos activities. His charges carried a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

The high-profile illegal casino scandal in the Moscow region came to light in the spring of 2011 and caused a major public uproar after the FSB reported an illegal gambling network.

Businessman Ivan Nazarov had allegedly operated illegal casinos in 15 towns across the region. According to law enforcement authorities, several high-ranking officials from the prosecutor's office and the Interior Ministry were involved in the operation, which generated between $5 million and $10 million in monthly revenue.

Investigators suspected Nishchemenko of accepting more that four million rubles ($124,000) in bribes.

Kommersant reports that he was released last night after 15 months in jail.