KHUJAND, February 18, Asia-Plus  -- 36 residents of the Patar jamoat in Sughd’s Konibodom district have lost totaling 66,000 US dollars, 30,500 somonis and 92,300 Russian rubles through fraud committed by Ergashboy Mahmadjonov, the head of the dehqan (peasant) farm Yakkaterak, Pattar jamoat. 

According to the Sughd police directorate, the preliminary investigation has established that Mahmadjonov collected this fund from the Pattar residents last year, promising to allot them lands for housing.      

Mahmadjonov faces charges under Article 247 (fraud) of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code and an investigation is under way, a source at the Sughd police directorate said.