DUSHANBE, February 15, 2011, Asia-Plus — Relative of persons who were convicted under the so-called “Isfara Case” have applied to the president for rehearing. The letter is signed by 26 persons.
The Isfara Case, as it is known, concluded in June 2009 with 29 people receiving sentences of 10 to 25 years. All defendants were tried as members of an organized crime group and so even those implicated in financial crimes were tried in tandem with those accused of murder, and sentenced accordingly.
Umed Vahhobov, the brother of Ghanijon Vahhobov who was sentenced to 11 years in prison, has told Asia-Plus that the letter was sent to president’s office on January 29, 2011. “In the letter, we express disagreement with the Supreme Court’s verdict against our relatives and ask the head of state to provide assistance in reviewing the case and passing fair sentence,” said Umed Vahhobov, “The appeals’ board has changed the court’s verdict inconsiderably and many persons involved in this case are continuing to unfairly serve long jail terms.”
He has noted that if the appeal is not considered, they will seek appointment to meet the president.
We will recall that the Supreme Court of Tajikistan sentenced 31 associates of Tajik fugitive businessman Nozimkhon Jourayev to long jail terms on June 9, 2009. They were sentenced to prison terms between 11 and 25 years, while a prosecutor in the trial of them asked for shorter terms for them.
According to Tajik law enforcement authorities, Nizomkhon Jourayev and his two brothers, Fakhriddin and Tolib, were involved in organizing the assassination of former Deputy Prosecutor-General Tolib Boboyev in 1999. Jourayev and his associates were also charged with setting up an organized criminal group, tax evasion, and a number of financial crimes.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Nizomkhon Jourayev, who was a successful businessman and owned the chemical plant in Isfara, under the provisions of eight articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 104 – murder; Article 185 – organization of illegal armed formation; Article 186 – banditry; Article 195 – illegal storage of weapons; Article 245 – embezzlement or misappropriation; Article 262 – money laundering; Article 292 – tax evasion; and Article 340 – document forgery. Nozimkhon Jourayev left the country before his arrest warrant was issued.
Nizomkhon Jourayev was arrested by Moscow police in the Khamovniki district of Moscow on August 27, 2010 and Dushanbe is awaiting a Russian decision on the possible extradition of him.
