State investigators are searching administrative buildings in two Moscow region towns over a case in which a pair of elderly fraudsters offered to sell senior government posts for several million dollars, Interfax .
The searches are linked to the arrests of 66-year-old Boris Shakaryan and 62-year-old Sergei Polikarkin, who are being held for suspected fraud.
The two were originally detained on Nov. 7 while receiving funds totaling 64.5 million rubles ($2 million).
According to investigators, the men convinced a government official to part with the cash by claiming that they could secure him the position of deputy head of the Voskresensky district administration through their extensive contacts, Itar-Tass reported.
It is alleged that they attempted a similar ruse in Bolshiye Vyazyomy in October.
The Interior Ministry earlier announced that the aging swindlers had also offered the vice governorship of St. Petersburg for 10 million euros ($13 million), Interfax said.
If convicted, both face up to 10 years in prison.
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