DUSHANBE, January 8, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A young woman has attempted to sell her newborn baby, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

Mahmadullo Asadulloyev, a spokesman for a MoI, said that a 24-year-old Farzona Khojayeva and a 32-year-old Shahlo Malikova were detained at Dushanbe maternity house # 1 yesterday on suspicion of having been involved in selling and buying of baby.

“The preliminary investigation has established that Farzona Khojayeva sold her newborn baby to Shahlo Malikova for $200,” the spokesman said.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Khojayeva and Malikova on charges of selling and buying of minors.