DUSHANBE, February 10, 2016, Asia-Plus -- Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) today endorsed amendments proposed by the government to the country’s Penal  Code.

The amendments, in particular, provide for alternative punishment for bribery and sexual harassment.

Speaking at the session, Ilyos Idriszoda, the deputy head of the anticorruption agency, noted that under those amendments, persons convicted of a bribery offense could be released after paying a fine at a rate of 200 somoni per each day  of a jail term.

Meanwhile, the current Penal Code provides for imprisonment ranging from five to twelve years for bribery offense (Article 319 and 320).

The amendments also allow prisoners serving their terms for sexual harassment to be released after paying a fine at the same rate -- 200 somoni per each day  of a jail term.

The current Penal Code stipulates that sexual harassment is punishable by up to two years in jail (Article 140).