Investigators in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region have closed a case against a 90-year-old doctor who was accused of accepting bribes of food, candy and cash from her patients, the regional Investigative Committee’s web site said on Monday.

Investigators however closed the case since the doctor expressed "sincere repentance,” the Investigative Committee said on its web site.

Last week the investigators said they had opened a criminal case against the 90-year-old local doctor Antonina Antonova, who was accused of “abusing office” by accepting food, cash and other items from her patients for issuing the medical certificates required by many professions, including grocery store employees, hair stylists, and medical and hotel staff.

Antonova, a survivor of the World War II Siege of Leningrad, denied her guilt, saying that “it is a normal practice for grateful patients to give their doctor candy, food or other tokens of their appreciation.”