In January of this year, Alexei Frenkel, the owner of a commercial bank, was arrested and charged with masterminding the assassination of Central Bank Deputy Chairman Andrei Kozlov, who had led a vigorous campaign against corruption and money-laundering in Russia's banking sector.
Frenkel's bank was among those targeted by Kozlov.
The Basmanny Court ruled the charges brought against Frenkel are lawful and based on conclusive evidence, thereby rejecting an appeal from his lawyer.
If convicted, Frenkel could face life in prison.
In all, seven suspects are now in custody for their alleged involvement in Kozlov's murder, including Liana Askerova, a restaurant owner and an accomplice of Frenkel's. It was her testimony that eventually led to the banker's arrest.
The Prosecutor General's Office, which is investigating the Kozlov murder, said in February that the probe would continue into mid-May.
