DUSHANBE, April 10, 2014, Asia-Plus – The Vakhsh prosecutor’s office has launched investigation into the death of suspect, who died in the Interior Ministry’s office in the Vakhsh district (Khatlon province) next day after being detained by local police officers on the night of March30-31 on suspicion of theft.

A source at the Vakhsh prosecutor’s office says criminal proceedings have been instituted against Zaynuddin Nazriyev, who was in charge of the temporary holding cell at the Vakhsh police station on that day.  Criminal proceedings have been instituted against him under the provisions of Article 322 (2) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – negligence; an investigation is under way.

If convicted, Zaynuddin Nazriyev could face five years in prison.

We will recall that resident of the Vakhsh district, Nizomiddin Homidov, 26, who was arrested on the night of March 30-31 on suspicion of theft died in a police station in the Vakhsh district.

Homidov’s body was handed to his relatives on April 1.

Nizomiddin’s father, Junaydullo Homidov, 61, says the body carries traces of torture, including broken ribs and hematomas on his wrists and neck as well as along his back.

Meanwhile, the Vakhsh police station representatives say that Nizomiddin Homidov allegedly committed suicide by self-hanging.

“They say he allegedly hanged himself with an undershirt in the temporary holding cell,” Junaydullo Homidov told Asia-Plus in an interview.

He accuses five officers of the Vakhsh police station of his son’s death and he has sent a letter to Tajik chief prosecutor Sherkhon Salimzoda with solicitation to thoroughly investigate the incident and to punish those guilty.