A former Russian prison official pulled out a gun and fatally shot himself after a judge sentenced him to three years in prison.
Viktor Sviridov, 71, who served as chief of department in Russia’s federal prison service, pleaded guilty to corruption charges and was sentenced on Wednesday. Sviridov had cancer, and his lawyers asked that he not receive a prison sentence for extorting a bribe of about $160,000, according to the Associated Press.
When the judge in the case said he would be punished with prison time, Sviridov pulled out a handgun and shot himself in the chest.
“I heard a clap and then saw him stumble and fall,” said defense lawyer Alexander Kotelnitsky in describing his client’s death by suicide.
Kotelnitsky said Sviridov’s medical records showing that he had cancer had been filed with the court, although the judge said he wasn’t aware of the illness when he imposed the sentence.
Officials are investigating how Sviridov managed to smuggle a gun from his home into the courtroom and said the metal detector at the entrance was working properly.
