DUSHANBE, July 2013, Asia-Plus – A court in the Rumi district, Khatlon province has sentenced three residents of the Panj district – Sherkhon Taghoyev, Alijon Valiyev and Daler Zohidov – to 9, 8½ and 8 years respectively.  The sentence followed their conviction on the charge of drug trafficking.

According to the case materials, Sherkhon Taghoyev was detained by officers from the Interior Ministry’s office in the Rumi district on April 30 while he was selling one kilogram of hashish.  Following his testimonies, Alijon Valiyev and Daler Zohidov were also arrested.

Azizbek Qarshiyev, a prosecutor in the trail, said that the guilt of the defendants had been fully proved.

Meanwhile, Daler Zohidov’s defense lawyer, Rustam Davlatshoyev, considers that the verdict was illegal and unfair.  “I intend to appeal against the verdict,” the lawyer told Asia-Plus in an interview today.  According to him, the guilt of his client was not proved.

“Investigator has sent the case to court being based only on initial testimonies that is contrary to law.  Besides, there are evidences that confession was extorted under torture,” said Davlatshoyev.

Zohidov’s father, Jobir Zohidov, also says that his son confessed to a crime he did not commit under torture.