MOSCOW, January 17 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court has extended detention of the former First Deputy Head of the Investigative Committee’s Moscow Directorate, General Denis Nikandrov, who stands charged with taking a large-scale bribe, until March 19, RAPSI correspondent reports from the courtroom on Wednesday.

Earlier, the court has also extended detention of another defendant in the case, Alexander Lamonov, until February 19.

On Monday, the court extended detention of the Investigative Committee’s Internal Security Directorate’s head Mikhail Maksimenko charged with taking $550,000 in bribes until June 27. His trial is to begin on January 23.

Nikandrov, Maksimenko, and his deputy Lamonov have been arrested and detained as part of a case over extortion of 8 million rubles (about $138,000 at the current exchange rate) that involved an alleged gang leader Zakhariy Kalashov. In addition, investigators believe that they extorted 10 million rubles (about $170,000) from a head of a large joint-stock company. The defendants denied their communications with Kalashov.

According to media reports, charges of taking bribes from Kalashov have been dropped against Lamonov.