Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The head of a family orphanage in Khorezm region allegedly forced three underage pupils to have sexual intercourse with the head of the regional department of justice and the head of the district emergency department for 10 months. This is reported by the project against violence Nemolchi.uz.

The court considered the case initiated against the head of the orphanage and the heads of two departments, which took place in September 2022.

The head of the family orphanage selected three girls in her care and for 10 months "used them for sexual intercourse with various men for financial reward." The girls were minors (15-17 years old).

The head of the regional department of justice and the head of the district department for emergency situations had sexual intercourse with the girls.

At the trial, all the defendants stated that "the girls did it of their own free will and no one forced them."

Nemolchi.uz noted that the minors were in a dependent position and therefore could not give voluntary and informed consent to sexual intercourse.

In September, the court of first instance sentenced the head of the orphanage to 5 years and 6 months in prison.

The heads of the Department of Justice and the Department of Emergency Situations were found guilty of committing crimes under part 1 of Article 128 (sexual intercourse or satisfaction of a sexual need in an unnatural form with a person known to the perpetrator to be under 16 years of age) and the old version of Article 128-1 (introduction sexual intercourse with a person aged 16 to 18 by providing him with material values or property benefits) of the Criminal Code.

They received punishment in the form of restriction of freedom for a period of 1 year and 6 months. They are prohibited from leaving their homes from 22:00 to 06:00, as well as changing their place of residence without the consent of the probation authorities and leaving their region of residence.

In December 2022, the court of appeals upheld the verdict.

The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan stated that these employees were dismissed as soon as they learned about this criminal act.

The Supreme Court stated that the parties were explained about the possibility of filing a cassation appeal against the decision of the judge of the appellate instance to the Judicial Collegium for Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court, filing a protest by the prosecutor, but “to date, the Supreme Court has not received a protest or complaint in the cassation procedure.”

“We notify that a legal assessment of the legality, fairness and validity of the above court decision will be given only if this criminal case is considered in cassation in the Judicial Collegium for Criminal Courts of the Supreme Court,” the statement says.

Children’s Ombudsman of Uzbekistan Aliya Yunusova is studying the situation with the rape of three pupils of the family orphanage No. 1 in Urgench, Khorezm region. This was reported by the press service of the Ombudsman.

Aliya Yunusova has taken control of the situation and is studying all materials relevant to the case, the statement says.

Tanzila Narbayeva stated that "a firm and uncompromising response from the state and society to such heinous crimes committed against minors is needed."

"That’s why it’s critical that this category of crimes be severely punished in a law designed to protect women and children from violence," she wrote.