DUSHANBE, March 15, Asia-Plus  -- On Friday March 14, the Supreme Court started consideration of criminal proceedings instituted against Fathullo Tojiddinov, the former commander of the rapid deployment group at the directorate of Ministry of Interior (MoI) for combating organized crimes in districts subordinate to the center (RRPs). 

Tojiddinov faces charges on three articles of Tajikistan Criminal Code: drug trafficking (Article 200, Part 3); abuse of office (Article 314, Part 1); and polygamy (Article 170).

We will recall that Fathullo Tojiddinov, also known as Eshoni Daroz, was arrested in June 2007 on suspicion of having been involved in drug trafficking.  Some six kilograms of raw opium were found in his car.    

During Tajikistan''s 1992-97 civil war, Tojiddinov was a field commander in the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) Popular Front.  He was close associate of known UTO field commander Rezvon Sodirov. 

After signing of the Tajik Agreement on Peace and National Reconciliation in 1997, the armed group of Fathullo Tojiddinov was integrated into the government forces.  From 2004 to 2006, Fathullo Tojiddinov served as commander of the rapid deployment group at the MoI directorate for combating organized crime in RRPs. 

According to Abdul Roziqov, an official with the MoI, Tojiddinov left the service in the MoI some two years ago.