Radio Liberty’ Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, reported on June 18 that prosecutors have asked a court in the Dushanbe to convict and sentence to 14 years in prison on corruption charges Mrs. Sojida Saidmurodova, the mother of former top police officer Dilshod Saidmurodov, who is serving life in prison for kidnapping and killing Shuhrat Ismatulloyev, the Frist Deputy Head of Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) Orienbonk, one of the country’s leading commercial banks, last year.

A relative of the 65-year-old Sojida Saidmurodova told Radio Ozodi on June 18 that the woman was arrested in September and charged with financial fraud, illegally obtaining a parcel of land, the illegal construction of property, forgery, and obstruction of justice.

In March, Tajikistan's Supreme Court sentenced her son, who used to work at the Interior Ministry directorate dealing with organized crime, and four other men to life in prison in the high-profile case of the abduction and murder of Shuhrat Ismatulloyev.

Another 10 defendants were sentenced to prison terms of between one year and eight years for their involvement in Ismatulloyev's abduction and murder.

Ismatulloyev was reportedly abducted in June last year.  His body was found later in August.