KHUJAND, June 2, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The trial of Poulod Umarov, editor-in-chief of Khujand-based independent Uzbek-language newspaper Tong , began in the Khujand city court on June 1.

Judge Ismoil Rahmatov, who is taking in the trial, said that criminal proceedings against Umarov had been instituted under the provisions of two articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – Article 257, Points “A”, “B” and “C” (misappropriation of means of foreign aid funds) and Article 340, Part 2, Point “B” (document forgery).

The judge added that Ms. Surayo Umarova, a chief accountant with Tong , was also suspected of having been involved in that crime.

Besides, Khujand entrepreneur Dado Qosimov is standing trial under Article 340, Part, Point “B.”  Qosimov is suspected of having provided the Tong managers with forged invoices on purchase of products for publishing the newspaper.

According to Rahmatov, criminal proceedings against the mentioned persons have been instituted following application by Maqsoud Khudoiberdiyev, the founder of Tong .