DUSHANBE, June 26, 2006, Asia-Plus — The head of the Tursunzoda commission for order of observing traditions, Akhtam Qosimov, has been arrested on suspicion of having been involved in bribery, according to press service of the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption.
Qosimov is charged with extorting $200 from of newlyweds who did not register their marriage with the registry office promptly. He is also charged with having taken 190 somonis from another newly married couple for permission to celebrate their wedding. Qosimov also took 200 somonis in bribe for permission to celebrate birthday party, the anticorruption press service said.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Akhtam Qosimov under the provisions of Article 319, Part 2 (bribery) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code, and if convicted, Qosimov could face up to seven years in prison.
