DUSHANBE, June 9, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The Prosecutor-General’s Office has opened an investigation into the death of convict who was held in the pretrial detention facility of the Ministry of Justice.

A well-informed source at Tajik law enforcement authorities told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon that one of officers of the pretrial detention facility has been detained and the criminal proceedings have been instituted under the provisions of Article 110 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – deliberate infliction of serious bodily injury.

According to him, Ismoil Bachajonov, 32, who was held in the pretrial detention facility, died under unclear circumstances.

“Bachajonov, who was convicted of the drug trafficking charge, was held in the pretrial detention facility as his case was remitted for examination,” said the source.  “One of officers of the detention center was arrested over that case.  Criminal proceedings have been instituted against him under the provisions of Article 110 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – deliberate infliction of serious bodily injury.”

We will recall that the trial of two former Dushanbe police officers charged in connection with the March death of detainee Safarali Sangov resumed on June 6.  Sangov''s relatives say he died from the effects of being beaten at a police station in Dushanbe''s Sino district.