A son of known Tajik wrestler Saidmumin Rahimov, who was the first sambo world champion from Tajikistan, has been has got a lengthy jail term for murder.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, says the 22-year-old Saidahmad Rahimov has been convicted of killing his friend Muhammadjovid Zokirzoda, the resident of Chorbogh village in Varzob district.
A court in Dushanbe sentenced Saidahmad Rahimov to twenty years in prison on November 10.
Rahimov’s defense lawyer, Firdavs Subhonzoda, told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service yesterday that his client in his last word in court repented of his action.
“I asked the court to take into account the young age of my client and the fact that he is the sole breadwinner of the family and the father of a minor child when sentencing, but alas,” the defense lawyer said.
Subhonzoda further added that after receiving a copy of the sentence he and the convict’s relatives “will consider filing an appeal.”
Saidahmad Rahimov’s relatives reportedly refrained from talking to Radio Ozodi’s reporters.
According to the Interior Ministry’s official press center, the tragedy took place on August 5. Following quarrel over monetary debt, Saidahmad Rahimov reportedly inflicted 17 stab wounds on Muhammadjovid Zokirzoda. Zokirzoda died on the spot.
This lawsuit has attracted the attention of the media and the public because the son of legendary Tajik wrestler Saidmumin Rahimov was in the dock.
Saidmumin Rahimov (June 15, 1946 – February 13, 2009) was the first sambo world champion from Tajikistan.
Sambo (self-defense without weapons) is combat sport and self-defense system developed in the Soviet Union and recognized as an official sport by the USSR All-Union Sports Committee in 1938.
Saidmumin Rahimov won world cup at the SAMBO World Championship in the -100 kg category in Minsk, Belarus in September 1975.
Besides, Saidmumin Rahimov won the Soviet Union sambo championships twice – in 1973 and 1975.
For a long time, Saidmumin Rahimov had been chief coach of Tajikistan’s national sambo team. From 1995 to 2004, he headed the Committee for Sports and Physical Training under the Government of Tajikistan and from 2004-2008, Saidmumin Rahimov was head of Tajikistan’s Judo Federation.
