MOSCOW, October 25 (RAPSI) – A businessman has been sentenced to 9 years in high security prison for giving a bribe to a Moscow customs employee for getting rid of customs formalities, the Investigative Committee’ s press service reports.

According to investigators, the businessman acting for the benefit of commercial organizations gave through an intermediary 3 million rubles, a part of a stipulated 5-million-ruble bribe, to the main state customs inspector after the release of goods of the Moscow office of Russia’s Federal Customs Service. When received the money, a customs officer permitted the commercial premises’ owners to replace customable luxury furs with cheaper goods.

Investigation into customs officials is ongoing. They are charged with abuse of power, the statement reads.