A Russian police chief took $29,000 in bribes from gambling den operators, say prosecutors in the city of Samara.
The Samara District Court ordered police to remand the suspect in custody until July 4 pending a court hearing, the Russian media outlet Samarskaya Gazeta reported.
The suspect, surnamed Korkin, is the deputy head of the Krasnoglinsky District Police Department, part of the Samara branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Illegal land-based casino operators in the southwestern Russian city gave Korkin “at least 2,150,000 rubles” in bribes, prosecutors say.
In return, Korkin allegedly agreed to “avoid interfering with the operation of their illegal gambling establishments.”
He also reportedly promised to divert the course of future criminal investigations into the operators.
Prosecutors: Russian Police Chief Tipped Off Casino Operators
In addition, Korkin allegedly told the operators he would provide them with “advance notice” of police inspections.
Prosecutors said they have indicted Korkin on charges pertaining to the “illegal organization and conduct of gambling.” They have also charged him with bribery “on an especially large scale.”
Russian courts have launched a crackdown on illegal casino operators in recent months. Many of the operators offer gambling-related services in major city centers.
Investigators say that many of these gambling dens use sophisticated security protocols to evade detection. But gambling addiction rates are on the rise, with police reporting a corresponding rise in related crimes.
Moscow is set to respond by developing unified guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of gambling addiction, the Russian media outlet RBC reported on May 7.
The Ministry of Health announced that, as of September 1, the government will begin providing free rehabilitation programs for gambling addicts.
The programs will run in state-run drug treatment centers and psychiatric clinics.
Addiction Guidelines Incoming
Officials told the media outlet that the Moscow-based Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Addiction will work on the guidelines in conjunction with the Russian Society of Psychiatrists.
At present, medics in Russia lack unified recommendations for the treatment of pathological gambling.
Doctors say that medical professionals now urgently need up-to-date guidelines and resources.
“In recent years, we have seen explosive growth in the number of people becoming addicted to gambling,” said Tatyana Klimenko, director of the National Scientific Center for Addiction.
Experts told RBC that the most effective treatment method remains psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and participation in Gamblers Anonymous-type support groups.
According to a recent report from the Russian media outlet RG, between 5% to 7% of Russian adults suffer from gambling addiction.
Most gambling addicts are males aged 18 to 35, officials say.
