Court extends custody for chief suspect in senior banker murder
A Moscow court extended on Friday custody for the main suspect in the murder of a top Russian banking regulator until January 11, 2008.
Prosecutors arrested Alexei Frenkel in January in connection with the murder of Central Bank First Deputy Chairman Andrei Kozlov, who led measures against money laundering.
The banking regulator was gunned down on September 13, 2006, in an apparent contract killing. Kozlov had closed down Frenkel`s VIP Bank three months prior to the murder.
Following his arrest, Frenkel, who could face life in prison, published two letters accusing the Central Bank of accepting bribes in exchange for allowing banks to join the deposit insurance system. Prosecutors are investigating Frenkel`s accusations.
Kozlov, 41, was described as a vigorous campaigner against corruption and money laundering in Russia`s banking sector. He and his driver, who died instantly, were shot outside a sports stadium in northeast Moscow.
In all, seven suspects are now in custody for their alleged involvement in Kozlov`s murder, including Liana Askerova, a restaurant owner, whose testimony eventually led to Frenkel`s arrest.
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