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Hot News 2005 August 25 District Court in Dushanbe sentenced Mukhtor Bokizoda to two years of corrective labor
On 25 August the Firdavsi District Court in Dushanbe sentenced Mukhtor Bokizoda, chairman of the Foundation for the Memory and Protection of Journalists, who also edited “Nerui Sukhan” newspaper to two years of corrective labor. The court also ordered the journalist to forfeit 20% of his salary to the state budget. The court sentenced Bokizoda on theft charges (article 244, part 1, of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan), which were different from those initially filed by the preliminary investigation bodies (article 253 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan- “damaging property of another, by breaking trust and fraud”). Bokizoda and his attorney answered questions by local and foreign journalists, shortly after the court proceedings were officially closed. They expressed disagreement over the court decision. Bokizoda also said that “as long as the case is politically motivated, he doesn’t think he is guilty of stealing electricity, and hoped until the last moment that the court rules in favor of him.” I. Inoyatov said the court decision is unfair, and they, therefore, plan to appeal it to Dushanbe City Court.
Bokizoda faced criminal charges
after the State Revenues Ministry’s Tax Police Department filed a
lawsuit against the journalist, accusing him of stealing electricity
from the street lightening system (article 253, part 2, item b of the
Criminal Code of the RT “inflicting damages on property by breaking
trust and fraud”). The estimated damage was 1678 somoni 98 |
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