DUSHANBE, August 25, 2011, Asia-Plus — The trial of two police officers from a police station in Dushanbe’s Sino district, Abdurahmon Yoqubov and Qodir Hasanov, charged with the death of a detainee has been adjourned.
They have been officially charged with negligence that led to a detainee’s death. Both were dismissed from the police force after they were charged.
We will recall that Safarali Sangov died in hospital in March from severe injuries sustained in what his relatives say was a beating at a police station in Dushanbe”s Sino district.
Police say Sangov committed suicide by jumping from a second-story set of stairs and, when he was then returned to an interrogation room, by repeatedly banging his head against a wall.
In the meantime, Sangov’s relatives say several police officers participated in his arrest on March 1 and have suggested that more than two police officers may have been involved in the beating that led to his death. They insist that Sangov was severely beaten and that his death was not suicide, but murder.
The trial started on June 2 but has been suspended since June 17.
Lawyer Gulchehra Kholmatova, who represents the injured party, says they are currently waiting for the results of the forensic re-examination.
