DUSHANBE, September 22, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The military court of the Khatlon garrison on September 21 ruled that Major Islomjon Ibrohimov, an officer with military unit 0717 of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) deployed in Khatlon province, be given a jail term of nine years.  Civilian Qurbonali Shodmonov was on trial together with Major Ibrohimov.  He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Tohir Iskandarov, chairman of the military court of the Khatlon garrison, says the court found them guilty of drug pushing (under article 200 (3) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code -- acquisition, storage, transportation, and use of drugs).

“The defendants say that officers from the Khatlon police directorate allegedly left them holding the bag, but the court proved their guilt completely and sentenced Ibrohimov and Shodmonov to nine and five years respectively,” Iskandarov said.

The trial began on September 19.

We will recall that undercover police officer posing as drug buyer offered Islomjon Ibrohimov to exchange his Opel for narcotics.  Ibrohimov and Shodmonov were caught red-handed on July 16, 2012.