KHUJAND, December 18, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Khujand prosecutor’s office has instituted criminal proceedings against 44 year-old unemployed resident of the northern city of Qairoqqum Farhod Abdurahimov under the provisions of Article 247, Point 4 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – especially large-scale fraud.

According to the Sughd police directorate, representing himself as an official with the Khujand mayor’s office, Abdurahimov was taking money from people for allotment of land for housing.  “He was caught red-handed on December 15, when he was taking bribe in an amount of US$3,000 from conditional buyer,” the source said.

The same day, criminal proceedings were instituted against Abdurahimov and an investigation is under way.