Penza, 4 April 2013. PenzaNews. Investigation of the fact of causing injuries by the officer of the Line Internal Affairs Department of the Penza region to the citizen suspected of selling drugs was initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Volga Federal District.

“According to the applicant – the man previously convicted of drug possession and sale, the police officer hit him several times in order to obtain the necessary information, causing bodily harm, not regarded as health hazard. The man submitted an incident statement to the police only a week later,” the press secretary of the Line Internal Affairs Department of the Penza region Elena Modyakova told news agency “PenzaNews.”

She specified that the police officer has been suspended from duty until the end of investigation.

“In case his involvement in the incident is proved, immediate decision concerning his further service in the police will be made, as well as disciplinary action against the employee’s supervisors. If the investigation establishes the case of defamation, the applicant may be subjected to criminal responsibility under Art. 129.1 of the Criminal Code “Defamation,” the agency interlocutor underlined.