QURGHON TEPPA, July 11, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The Khatlon prosecutor’s office has instituted criminal proceedings against the district police officer from the Yovon district, Mashraf Aliyev, under the provisions of three articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 143'' – torture; Article 109 – driving to suicide; and Article 316 – misuse of powers.

Bahodur Homidov, the principal deputy chief prosecutor of Khatlon province, remarked this at a news conference in Qurhgon Teppa on July 10.

“On April 29 this year, the underage resident of the village of Kulobod in the Yovon district, Khoushvakht Mahmadsaid, was found hanged at home after he was tortured and beaten by the district police officer Aliyev.  The relatives took Khoushvakht from the hook in time and he is still in hospital.” said Homidov, “Khoushvakht Mahmadsaid was detained on suspicion of theft and the preliminary investigation established that Aliyev used torture and beating to extort a confession from the teenager.”

The Yovon district court is currently considering criminal proceedings instituted against Mashraf Aliyev.