27/7 Tass 113
YEKATERINBURG, July 27 (Itar-Tass) — Severouralsk mayor Yuri Frolov has been suspended within the framework of the investigation into the criminal case over taking a 900,000-rouble bribe, the press service of the regional department of the Investigative Committee (SK) told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
Criminal proceedings against the official were opened under the Criminal Code article that covers extorting and taking a large bribe by a group of persons in collusion.
Investigators demanded that the mayor be suspended in order to rule out his pressure on other suspects in the case. On July 20, the Sverldovsk region court changed the measure of restraint for Frolov from custody to 5-million-rouble bail.
According to the investigators, a local company funded the repairs and construction works under municipal contracts worth over three million roubles. Town Hall officials repeatedly demanded from the company director a 900,000-rouble bribe for signing acceptance certificates and transferring the debt sums. The director was forced to hand over part of the money. Frolov then was detained.