DUSHANBE, April 30, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Dushanbe resident Navrouz Abdulloyev was detained by police officers yesterday on suspicion of having cheated a number of local entrepreneurs out of more than 1 million US dollars, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

The source at a MoI said that the ministry had received applications from several entrepreneurs against Navrouz Abdulloyev.  They accused him of misappropriation of their money.

Thus, an entrepreneur from Dushanbe, K.T., noted that Abdulloyev took goods for 596,000 US dollars from him for realization during 2007-2008.  Abdulloyev allegedly realized the goods and misappropriated proceeds.  “The fraud also took goods for a total amount of 302,800 somoni from two other entrepreneurs, K.A. and K.B., and did not return their money,” the source said.

Besides, Abdulloyev took 500,000 US dollars from K.U. and did not return them.  He also took US$120,000 worth of goods from M.I. for realization and misappropriated US$43,000.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Navrouz Abdulloyev and an investigation is under way.