A 27-year-old resident of the northern city of Panjakent, A.S., has been arrested on suspicion of stealing 1 million somonis (equivalent to about 90,000 US dollars) from his distant female relative.   

The press center of the Interior Ministry’s Office in Sughd Province says he stole 1 million somonis, 1,000 US dollars and gold jewelry from his 52-year-old female relative living in Sughdiyon Township, which is subordinate to Panjakent.

He reportedly took the money and gold jewelry out of the woman’s house between August and October of this year, taking advantage of her absence. 

Akbar Sharifi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry’s Office in Sughd Province, says the detainee is a worker at the Zarafshon gold mining company.  

Criminal proceedings against him have reportedly been instituted under the provisions of Article 244 (4) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – theft; an investigation is under way.   

Sharifi added that the suspect had partially returned the stolen funds to the woman.