KHUJAND, April 23, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Five arsons have been reported in the Sughd province since the beginning of this year, the Sughd firefighting service chief Nozim Mahmadov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, criminal proceedings instituted to investigate into the arsons have been completed and moved to courts. “Thus, the person who set fire to the shop, Muhayo, in the city of Chkalovsk has been fined 18,000 somoni,” Mahmadov said.

In all, 139 fires have been registered in the province over the first three months of this year, which is 36 cases fewer than in the same period of 2008, the firefighting service chief said.  Five persons, including two children, have been killed in this year’s fires and damage caused by them to the region’s economy has amounted to 169,493 somoni.