A 27-year-old resident of the southern city of Kulob has been detained on suspicion of extortion.

According to the Interior Ministry’s press center, he extorted money from the father of a 24-year-old woman with whom he had an intimate relationship.    

During six months, he reportedly extorted money from the woman’s farther, threatening to embarrass her.

The man reportedly received more than 13,500 somonis by blackmailing, but it was not enough for him.  On January 4, he once again called the woman’s father and demanded 18,000 somonis from him. 

He was caught red-handed while taking 1,500 somonis from the woman’s father.  Criminal proceedings have been instituted against him under the provisions of Article 250 (2) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – extortion; an investigation is under way.  He faces up to 12 years in prison.