The head of the Directorate for Combating Economic Crimes and three police officers in Russia's east Siberian Zabaikalsky Territory are suspected of taking bribes worth 14 million rubles (more than $450,000), a spokesman for the local investigation committee said.

The suspects are accused of helping local businessmen to acquire documents to export lumber products to China in exchange for money, Zoya Nekrasova said.

Investigators believe that the criminal group was created in March 2008. The suspects were reportedly charging "clients" between 3,000 rubles and 9,000 rubles ($97-$292) as a fee for one freight wagon of lumber.

It took investigators 10 months to carry out a preliminary investigation, the spokeswoman said. Two police officers have been detained, while the economic crimes directorate's head and another officer have signed a recognizance not to leave, she said.

A criminal case is to be submitted to the court after the charges are approved by the local prosecutor, she added.

CHITA, September 9 (RIA Novosti)