DUSHANBE, February 24, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik variety singer Farzona Khurshed has got a jail term of two years for helping her fiancé, Farrukh Rouziyev, flee court.

The court of Dushanbe’s Sino district on February 23 ruled that Farzona Khurshed be given a prison term of two years.  The sentence followed her conviction on the charge of complicity to escape (Article 36, Part 5 of Tajikistan’s Penal Court).  The trial of Farzona Khurshed began on February 9.

The court also sentenced Farrukh Rouziyev to 10 years in prison for fraud (Article 247) and hooliganism (Article 237).

Two officers from the Dushanbe police directorate who had been warding Rouziyev were sentenced to 1 ½ and 2 years respectively for neglecting their duties.

In the meantime, Ms. Lutfiya Safaraliyev, the layer for Farzona Khurshed, told journalists that she did not accept the verdict and would appeal against it.

We will recall that Farzona Khurshed is accused of allegedly helping her fiancé escape from courthouse on January 16 this year.  The police arrested Farzona Khurshed and Farrukh Rouziyev the next day after Rouziyev’s trial began (January 17).  Farzona was released on January 19 after a three-day detention but several days later she was arrested again.