A criminal case has been opened against a traffic cop who is suspected of accepting a bribe from the kidnapper of 8 year old Daria Popova. The police officer has been placed under house arrest while he awaits trial. 

"A Former traffic  inspector in the  police department of the Interior Ministry in Aksay District is suspected of taking a bribe for illegal actions," reports a regional Investigative Committee press release.

According to investigators, in the morning of September 27 this year near Rostov-on-Don city limited, the traffic inspector stopped a Hyundai Elantra, whose driver showed clear signs of intoxication.

The inspector demanded that Mr. Maximov, 56, pay 40 thousand rubles for his administrative violation. The inspector then police department of the Interior Ministry in Aksay District to take the payment. Once there he  agreed to a lower amount, and accepted 15 rubles in cash, explains the Investigative Committee.

Later the same day, the driver of the Hyundai Elantra was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping eight Rostov schoolgirls. During questioning, he reported on the misconduct by traffic police officer.

He  established the identity of traffic inspector. The inspector confessed to the bribery, asked for forgiveness,  and is actively cooperating with the investigation. During the investigation, he was fired from the Interior Ministry.

Daria Popova was lost on September 19. According to her mother, at about two o'clock in the afternoon the girl, who was saying goodbye to a classmate, went to the door of classmate's  house, rang the intercom, but never reached the apartment door. Daria's parents reported the incident to police. Police began a search for the child along with investigators, Emergency services, and over 20,000 volunteers. Daria found alive and well in one of the city markets on September 27.

In early October, Maksimov hanged himself in detention.