14:00, 9 October 2010

Ten GIBDD officers accused of bribe-taking face trial in Astrakhan

As reported by the press service of the regional prosecutor's office, a criminal case against a GIBDD (Russian equivalent for the STSI - State Traffic Safety Inspectorate) company commander and nine inspectors, accused of taking bribes when on duty service, has been sent to Astrakhan Regional Court.

According to the investigation, in early 2008, Arkady Kirsanov, commander of Company 1 of the special road-patrol battalion No. 1 of the Regional UVD (Interior Department), created an organized criminal grouping from his subordinate staff with the aim to regularly extort bribes from the drivers passing through the stationary posts "Novy Most", "Stary Most" and "Kiri-Kili".

Police officers took their illegal remunerations for "keeping their eyes closed" on traffic rules violations, the "Interfax" reports with reference to the investigation.
According to the Investigatory Committee, Kirsanov's monthly illegal income from three GIBDD posts in Astrakhan made about 150,000 roubles, which he allegedly shared with his bosses.