A 45-year-old resident of Hiloli jamoat in Khuroson district of Khatlon province has been arrested on suspicion of raping and killing a nine-year-old girl, according to the Interior Ministry’s website.

“The tragedy took place on August 16. The man being in a state of drunkenness brought a local 9-year-old girl to his home and raped her twice, and to hide his crime, he strangled the girl,” the Interior Ministry’s website said.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the man under the provisions of two articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 104 (2) – murder; and Article 138 – rape.  The man faces life imprisonment.