Alexander Protopopov, acting deputy chief of Russia’s prison service, oversaw the deconstruction of the road in the northern Komi region according to police.

They said he then sold 7,000 reinforced concrete slabs for his own profit. They believe the scheme has cost the Russian government more than 6 million roubles (£54,000).

Slabs were sold on by a commercial company after the slabs were “dismantled and driven away” between 2014 and 2015.

Mr Protopopov, who was awarded a medal for creating “spiritual unity” in his role as head of the Komi prison service, was arrested and faces charges of misappropriation of state property in his official capacity AFP reports.

It added road construction is a highly corrupt sector in Russia – a highway built for the Sochi Winter Olympic games cost £5.6 billion.