PENZA, Russia -- A military court in the western Russian city of Penza today sentenced a former army colonel to four years in jail for taking bribes from potential conscripts, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
The officer, whose name was not made public, served as the head of the Penza City Military Commission from January 2007 to December 2008.
The court ruled that during that period, he took numerous bribes from potential conscripts in exchange for helping them avoid military service.
The Penza Garrison Military Court banned the former officer from working in any official or government post for 2 1/2 years after his prison term.
The court further required him to repay the state the 177,000 rubles ($6,000) he reportedly accepted in bribes from potential conscripts.
The officer, whose name was not made public, served as the head of the Penza City Military Commission from January 2007 to December 2008.
The court ruled that during that period, he took numerous bribes from potential conscripts in exchange for helping them avoid military service.
The Penza Garrison Military Court banned the former officer from working in any official or government post for 2 1/2 years after his prison term.
The court further required him to repay the state the 177,000 rubles ($6,000) he reportedly accepted in bribes from potential conscripts.
