MOSCOW, July 18 (RAPSI) – A court in the Altai Territory has passed a sentence upon former regional vice-governor Yury Denisov and his wife for taking 2.5 million rubles ($42,300) in bribes, the Investigative Committee’s press service announced on Tuesday.

Denisov was given 8 years and 1 month in prison, while his wife received suspended sentence for a term of 5 years and 1 month. Additionally, they were fined over 6 million rubles ($101,400) in total.

Ex-official was convicted of extorting bribes. Tatiana Denisova was found guilty of mediation in bribery, the statement reads.

According to investigators, between November 2009 and March 2016, Denisov took bribes from heads of educational institutions under his jurisdiction. Investigators revealed four criminal episodes committed by the former official. Investigators also allege that Tatyana Denisova, acting as an intermediate, received a part of bribe amounting to 200,000 rubles (nearly $3,400 at the current exchange rate) from one of managers in March 2016. In total, Denisov received over 2.5 million rubles in bribes.

The spouses’ assets valued at more than 12 million rubles ($202,400) have been seized upon the investigator’s motion.