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Criminal probe against former district police chief finished

Earlier this month, investigators finished the probe into the criminal case against Andrei Bykov, a member of the Tsapok's gang

MOSCOW, November 22 (Itar-Tass) — The investigation into the criminal case against the former police chief in the village of Kushchevskaya, Krasnodar Territory, has been completed, Investigative Committee (SK) Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

The department for investigating very serious cases in the Krasnodar Territory finished the probe into criminal case against head of the department for combating organized crime in Tikhoretsk Alexander Khodych. “The suspect was in custody during the investigation. He remains in a remand ward,” Markin said.

In March through April 2008, the Kushchevskaya district investigation department handled a criminal case against Nikolai Gordik accused of non-payment of wages and illegal drawing of a loan. The suspect was kept in a remand ward.

“Khodych, who had no authority to make procedural decisions on this criminal case, used his office position and repeatedly visited Gordik in the remand ward. The police officer offered the suspect to pass him two million roubles for assistance in dropping criminal prosecution,” the SK spokesman said.

During the negotiations, Gordik said he had no such sum but that one of the Kushchevskaya residents owed him three million roubles, as he had failed to meet his obligations in purchase/sale of cars.

“Khodych demanded that Gordik write a note transferring the debt-recovering rights to him, thereupon he demanded three million roubles from the debtor.

“As the debtor was unable to raise the required sum, Khodych insisted that he pass him an Audi Q-7 car. But the village resident was unable to do it, too. At last, he gave the police officer an Infinity G35 which cost 970,000 roubles.

“The criminal case with endorsed indictment was sent to court for consideration on the merits, Markin said.

In November 2010, a tragedy in the village of Kushchevskaya shocked Russia, when twelve people, including four children were found slain in a house. The investigators ascertained that the gang of Sergei Tsapok had operated with impunity in the area for long years. They had intimidated the local residents. Twelve people are in custody on charges of involvement in the massacre, and another two committed suicide while under arrest.

After the beginning of the investigation, Kushchevskaya residents repeatedly told reporters about a connection between the Tsapok’s gang with former organized crime police chief, head of the Kushcehvsyaa center for combating extremism Alexander Khodych, whom they called “the Gray Eminence” of the village.

Earlier this month, investigators finished the probe into the criminal case against Andrei Bykov, a member of the Tsapok's gang.

The investigators gathered evidence of Bykov's involvement in the murder of 16 people as a member of a stable armed group (gang). In 1998, they killed Krylovskaya village resident Alexander Ivanov, in 2003, they killed farmers Roman and Valery Bogachyov, in 2006 - Kushchevskaya resident Leonid Kadyan, and in 2010, they killed 12 persons in Kushchevskaya house, including three children.

Also, the investigator ascertained Bykov's involvement in the attempted murder of Leonid Dadyan in 2005, preparations to murder businessman Alexander Strokun and other very serious crimes.

Bykov was charged with the commission of crimes envisioned by Article 209, Part 2 ("banditry"), Article 105, Part 2 ("murder"), Article 162, Part 4 ("robbery"), Article 167, Part 2 ("malicious damage to or destruction of property"), Article 326, Part 2, ("forgery or destruction of vehicle identification number"), Article 166, Part 4 ("seizing a car or means of transportation without the purpose of stealing), and Article 222, part 3 ("Illegal turnover of weapons").