QURGHON TEPPA, July 7, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Saidnazar Zabirov, the head of office of the chairman of Khatlon’s Khuroson district, has been arrested on suspicion of having been involved in corruption, Hikmatullo Ismatov, an official with the Khatlon anticorruption directorate, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, local entrepreneur, Safar Soliyev, on June 23 this year asked Saidnazar Zabirov to help him get permit for land for construction of private bathhouse; the last demanded 1,000 U.S. dollars for that.

“Zabirov was caught red-handed by anti-corruption officers when he was taking bribe from Soliyev,” said Ismatov, “Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Zabirov under the provisions of Article 314, Part 4 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – bribery.”