The head of a Moscow traffic police battalion whose subordinates commandeered several private cars to stop a runaway vehicle but refused to pay compensation for damage was officially reprimanded on Tuesday.

Moscow traffic police chief Maj. Gen. Sergei Kazantsev said he would see to it that compensation was paid in full to the owners whose cars were damaged in the incident.

On March 5, police stopped several cars on the Moscow Outer Ring Road (MKAD) and ordered the drivers to block the five-lane highway in a bid to stop an Audi police had been chasing.

Motorist Stanislav Sutyagin said the Audi eventually rammed the cars blocking the highway and escaped while police continued the pursuit.

He said he was denied compensation for the damage to his car, let alone for endangerment to his life, on the grounds that "the suspects escaped."

In neighboring Belarus, traffic police officers who in 2008 set up a makeshift roadblock to stop a drunk driver were dismissed and handed suspended sentences over the incident that left several injured.

MOSCOW, March 9 (RIA Novosti)