DUSHANBE, September 30, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Physician with the Khujand hospital, Colonel of medical service Odiljon Hojiboyev has been arrested on suspicion of having been involved in corruption, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

Mahmadullo Asadulloyev, a spokesman for a MoI, told Asia-plus that Hojiboyev was caught by officers from the Sughd regional directorate for combating organized crime yesterday while he was taking a $400 bribe from the private soldier Farrukh Sharifov for exempting him from the military service.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Hojiboyev and an investigation is under way.