In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the head of the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption Sulaimon Sultonzoda revealed on February 16 that the brother of Agroinvestbonk head, Pardaali Alimardonov, who is top manager of the Closed-Joint-Stock (CJSC) Barakat Corporation, has been detained for nonpayment of loans in a total amount of 91 million somonis taken from Agroinvestbonk.

According to him, Pardaali Alimardonov has partially repaid loans to the bank.  “If Pardaali Alimardonov fully repays his debt to the bank, he will be released from detention,” the anticorruption agency head noted. 

Sultonzoda further said that the ex-head of Agroinvestbonk Farrukh Taghoimurodzoda had been detained for the illegal issuance of more than 37 million somonis in loans.  

Headed by Murodali Alimardon, Agroinvestbonk is one of four troubled banks of Tajikistan, which have been experiencing serious liquidity issues since 2015.  Parliament in December 2016 approved a government decree to issue bonds to recapitalize the mentioned banks.  Agroinvestbonk still owes 344 million somonis to its customers.  

Agroinvestbonk is now 87.3 percent government-owned as a result of the bailout program.

Recall, Saeed Yoqubzod, the chairperson of Khatlon’s Jomi district, told reporters on July24, 2020 that one of subdivisions of Barakati Jomi Company operating in the district has been transferred to the state.  

Representatives of the company engaging in animal husbandry say they have failed to pay off their bank debts in time, and therefore, 400 hectares of lands and 200 head of cattle have been transferred to the state

Barakati Jomi, which is owned by the family of Agroinvestbonk head Murodali Alimardonov, operates in the Jomi district in several directions: seed-growing; gardening; and livestock breeding.  A total debt of this company reportedly amounts to 489,674 somoni.

Two companies owned by the Alimardonov family have operated in the Jomi district and their total debt reportedly amounts to 1.5 million somoni.

A source within the Khatlon law enforcement authorities has told Asia-Plus that criminal proceedings were instituted against Barakati Jomi head Murodali Mirzoyev.