Uzbek media reports say a police officer in Tashkent has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a 13-year-old girl.

Kun.uz reports that the incident took place in July 2023, and a person serving as a prophylactic inspector in Tashkent’s Yashnabad district was arrested on suspicion of assaulting sexually a 13-year-old girl.

The Bostanlyk district court reportedly sentenced M.J. to 15 years in prison on December 25, 2023.  

The trial was held behind closed doors.

The 31-year-old M.J., who served as a prophylactic inspector at police station No. 3 in Mirabad district was found guilty of committing the crime against Z.D. (born in 2010) under Article 118-4 (raping). 

Moreover, in accordance with Article 417 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Procedural Code (actions of the court when circumstances indicating the commitment of a crime by a person who has not been held criminally responsible are established), a notice was sent to the Bostanlyk district prosecutor to decide the issue of instituting criminal proceedings against Sh.A., M.Z. and F.M. who created conditions for M.J. to sexually assault a person under the age of 14 under the Paragraph “a” of Article 131 (keeping a brothel) of the Criminal Code.

Prior to that, a National Guard officer, who raped a 13-year-old girl in Kibray district, was also imprisoned for 15 years.