DUSHANBE, May 3, Asia-Plus, - A final hearing of a case of investigation of the cause of the tragic “Chorbogh” orphanage fire will be held in a court in the Ismoili Somoni district of Dushanbe today.

Dushanbe prosecutor Habibullo Vohidov has told Asia-Plus that nine persons face criminal charges; of them, three, including the orphanage director Sadullo Yatimov, are under arrest and the remaining six have given written undertakings not to leave a place.

The orphanage director, in particular, faces charges under six articles of Tajikistan ’s Criminal Code, including negligent homicide, abuse of power, negligence, service forgery, embezzlement of state funds, and misappropriation of foreign aid.

As it had been reported earlier, a blaze broke out at the “Chorbogh” orphanage for children with intellectual disabilities in Dushanbe early on January 8, killing at least 13 children and injuring at least two others.  77 children were rescued, with one survivor with second-degree burns hospitalized in a burn-treatment facility.