DUSHANBE, July 22, Asia-Plus - Safarali Qosimov, the head of the department for land-tenure regulations in the Fayzobod district, some 50 kilometers east of Dushanbe, was caught by prosecutors Thursday [July 20] red-handed when he was taking bribes from three local residents, according to information the Prosecutor-General’s Office.

Ms. Matluba Abdulloyeva, the head of the department for international relations and information of the Prosecutor-General’s Office, has told Asia-Plus that Safarali Qosimov demanded US$2,800 as bribe from 19 residents of the district for providing them plots totaling 2.8 hectares.  

“Safarali Qosimov was detained on July 20 when he was taking US$300 (a part of the amount demanded) from three local residents,” Ms. Abdulloyeva said.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Safarali Qosimov; an investigation is under way.  

According to data of the Prosecutor-General’s Office, 120 corruption-related crimes have been revealed in Tajikistan over the past six months.  65 criminal proceedings have been filed against 82 corrupt persons.  The majority of them have faced charges of corruption, fraud, embezzlement and abuse of office.  A total amount of damage caused by them to the country’s economy has amounted to more than 451,000 Somonis.