Suspected abettor of St. Pete suicide bomber arrested until early July
MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - The Basmanny District Court in Moscow has arrested a suspected abettor of the perpetrator of the April 3 attack on the St. Petersburg metro at least until July 10.
"The investigation's motion on taking Mukhammadyusup Ermatov into custody as a restrictive measure shall be granted," Judge Yulia Safina said.
The investigator motivated the motion by the fact that an explosive device identical to the one used in the terror attack had been found at Ermatov's home.
The suspect has denied his guilt, the investigator said.
The prosecution asked the court to grant the investigation's motion.
For his part, the defense lawyer argued against his client's arrest. "There is no obvious evidence of Ermatov's guilt, all these charges have been made up on political grounds," the lawyer said.
"Ermatov was renting the flat with other people, there is no evidence proving that the explosive device was his," the lawyer said.
He also suggested that Ermatov was beaten during his detention. "Tell me what this bruise on your nasal bridge is? Were you beaten while being detained?" he asked.
Ermatov said that he received "one blow" but left the question of his arrest to the court's discretion.
Ermatov is suspected of terrorism and illegal acquisition and storage of explosive substances.
The media said earlier Mukhammadyusup Ermatov is a brother of Ibgarimzhon Ermatov, who was arrested in St. Petersburg earlier and had been sharing the same flat with other suspects arrested as part of the inquiry.