Prosecutors arrested Alexei Frenkel, a former banker, in January as the chief suspect in the September murder of Kozlov, first deputy chairman of the Central Bank Board. Kozlov closed down Frenkel's VIP-bank three months before the killing.
"During the questioning of my client, Alexei Frenkel, an investigator told us the inquiry would be completed within a week," Igor Trunov said. The Prosecutor General's Office said in February that the probe would continue into mid-May.
Trunov said that although investigators had formulated new charges against Frenkel Friday, the fresh accusations were basically the same and still failed to specify any motive for the killing.
"I have no idea what the whole thing was about," the lawyer said, adding that Frenkel had refused to testify because the charges were unclear.
Following his arrest, Frenkel, who could face life in prison, published two letters accusing the Central Bank of accepting bribes in exchange for allowing banks to join the deposit insurance system. Prosecutors are investigating Frenkel's accusations.
Kozlov, 41, who has been described as a vigorous campaigner against corruption and money laundering in Russia's banking sector, was shot in the head late September 13 in what appears to have been a contract killing. Kozlov and his driver, who was killed instantly, were gunned down as they left a sports stadium in northeast Moscow. The banker underwent emergency surgery, but died several hours later.
In all, seven suspects are now in custody for their alleged involvement in Kozlov's murder, including Liana Askerova, a restaurateur, whose testimony eventually led to Frenkel's arrest.
