General Alexander Bulbov, head of technological support at the federal drugs control agency, was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) at a Moscow airport on Tuesday on suspicion of the disclosure of state secrets and illegal phone tapping.
"The court believes that if at large Bulbov could flee or destroy evidence and pressurize witnesses," the presiding judge said, adding that some witnesses had already asked for protection.
Media reports earlier suggested the general's custody was the FSB's retaliation for the arrest of five senior officials from the main domestic security body last spring as part of a probe into the large-scale smuggling of furniture sold via Russia's largest furniture retailers, Tri Kita and Grand. The furniture was reportedly stored in the service's warehouses.
Bulbov's department joined the investigation on orders from President Vladimir Putin over a year ago, when the president demanded technological assistance in the Tri Kita case.
The general said during the hearings on Friday that his arrest was over his activities at the drugs agency. His defense lawyers said they would appeal against the ruling, citing a lack of evidence substantiating their client's guilt.
"We do not agree with the court decision, and will appeal against it with the [higher] Moscow City Court," lawyer Sergei Sevruk said.
Earlier on Friday, the court authorized the arrest of another drugs control official, Major Sergei Donchenko, on similar charges. His lawyers called the ruling illegitimate and ungrounded. Release on bail was also denied for similar reasons.
The deputy head of Russia's environmental watchdog joined accusations against Bulbov on Friday. Outspoken Oleg Mitvol said the general's family controls about 25% of real estate in a national park in Russia's westernmost enclave of Kaliningrad, some of which was illegally built on UNESCO-listed territory.
