KHUJAND, February 13, Asia-Plus  -- A woman from the Bobojonghafruov district has sold her newborn baby to a family from the Ghonchi district for 8,500 Russian rubles (equivalent to some $350), Asia-Plus has learned at the Sughd police directorate.  

            The source at the Sughd police directorate told Asia-Plus that the 18-year-old Mavzouna Hakimova acting in collusion with Munira Ahrorova from Qairoqqum sold her baby to the family from the Qalai Dousti village in Ghonchi at the end of last week.

            Criminal proceedings have been instituted on charge of buying and selling of minors and an investigation is under way, the source said.  

            According to official data, 13 cases of buying and selling of minors were reported in Tajikistan last year.