DUSHANBE, January 16, Asia-Plus – The law enforcement agencies have arrested Sadullo Yatimov, the director of the “Chorbogh” orphanage for disabled children, and Ilhom Ashurov, the orphanage bursar, over the deadly fire that occurred in the orphanage on January 9, Tajik Prosecutor-General Bobojon Bobokhonov told journalists on January 16.  

According to him, charges will be brought against them within ten days of their arrest under the criminal code’s article on negligence entailing death of one or more persons.  He added that charges would be pressed against them probably under another article as well.  Tajik chief prosecutor noted that they were also suspected of having been involved in embezzlement of funds provided to the orphanage by the government and donors.  

The fire killed 13 children and injured another. 

           



DUSHANBE


, January 16, Asia-Plus — In 2005,


Tajikistan


’s prosecutors instituted 74 criminal proceedings against 99 activists, including 16 women, of the outlawed religious extremist “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organization, First Deputy Prosecutor-General, Abdusami Dadaboyev, told journalists in


Dushanbe


on January 16. 

According to him, it is 36 proceedings more compared to 2004, when 38 criminal proceedings against 99 members of the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organizations were instituted in the republic.

“Among the Hizb ut-Tahrir members arrested last year were several top figures in the Hizb ut-Tahrir network in the republic,” said Dadaboyev, “At present, prosecutor are investigating the case of deputy head of the Hizb ut-Tahrir network in the republic and head of the Hizb ut-Tahrir cell for


Sughd


Province


.”     

   

            According to Dadaboyev, detained members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization mainly faced charges of public calls for overthrowing constitutional system in


Tajikistan


and spread of subversive literature and leaflets and were sentenced to prison terms ranging fro five to six year.   

DUSHANBE


, January 16, Asia-Plus — In 2005, more than 12,000 crimes were reported in


Tajikistan


, which is 9 percent more than during 2004, Tajik chief prosecutor Bobojon Bobokhonov announced at a news conference in


Dushanbe


on January 16. 

According to him, the highest crime rate last year was reported in


Rasht


Valley


(eastern


Tajikistan


).  “Compared to 2004 the crime rate increased in Rasht District by 80.6 percent, in Jirgatol by 70.6 percent ad in Tojikobod by 50 percent,” Bobokhonov said.  

Tajik chief prosecutor noted that the number of crimes using weapons committed in the republic during the reported period decreased by 59 percent.  The number of reported killings decreased by 11 percent. 

Prosecutor-General told journalists that 620 crimes involving the manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, and use of drugs were reported in


Tajikistan


last year.  He noted that the rate of detection of such crimes had decreased but an amount of seized drugs had increased.  “Last year, 23 foreign citizens were detained for the drug-trafficking crimes, including one citizen of the


Russian Federation


, four citizens of


Uzbekistan


, two citizens of


Kyrgyzstan


and 16 citizens of


Afghanistan


,” Mr. Bobokhonov said. 

Compared to 2004 there was a certain increase in number reported crimes related to corruption, according to Tajik chief prosecutor.  “Last year, 162 crimes related to corruption were reported in


Tajikistan


, which is 44 cases more compared to 2004 (118 cases),” Mr. Bobokhonov said, adding that a number of crimes committed by minors also increased last year. 

Compared to 2004 there was a 73 percent reduction of a number of registered criminal groupings in the republic.  “In 2005, 37 organized criminal rings were registered in


Tajikistan


against 73 registered in 2004,” Tajik chief prosecutor said.  

DUSHANBE


, January 16, Asia-Plus — The trial of Ghaffor Mirzoyev, former commander of


Tajikistan


’s Presidential Guards and former head of the country’s Drug Control Agency (DCA), is continuing behind closed doors at the Security Ministry-run pretrial detention facility, Asia-Plus has learned from Abduqayum Yusufov, defense lawyer of Ghaffor Mirzoyev.

As it had been reported earlier the trail of Ghaffor Mirzoyev began on January 11 but it was adjourned until January 16 after some technical issues emerged.  Together with Ghaffor Mirzoyev, 15 other people are also in the dock.  

            Ghaffor Mirzoyev, who was arrested on

August 6, 2004

, faces 34 charges that include embezzlement and attempting to mount a coup.  Mirzoyev maintains his innocence.  

DUSHANBE


, January 16, Asia-Plus – 1254 inspections conducted by


Tajikistan


’s State Finance Control Committee last year revealed numerous infringements that caused a total damage of 62.1 million Somonis to the country’s economy, Matlubkhon Davlatov, head of the Tajik State Finance Control Committee, announced at briefing in


Dushanbe


on January 16.  

            According to him, a damage caused by illegal use of state funds amounted to 41 million Somonis.  A total amount of shortages and embezzlement of commodity-financial values amounted to 11.3 million Somonis, and damage caused to the national budget by unauthorized lease and sale of state-owned properties amounted to 9.8 million Somonis, Mr. Davlatov said.  “Of the officially reported damage, 7.3 million Somonis have so far been refunded,” head of the State Finance control Committee said.

            “In 2005, the Committee brought 289 cases into the investigation agencies,” said Matlubkhon Davlatov, “Of them, 249 cases moved to the Prosecutor-General’s Office, 13 – to the Interior Ministry, and 24 – to the Ministry of Security”.  “According to experts estimates, a total amount of damage caused by these 289 cases was 52.8 million Somonis,” Davaltov noted.