Jizzakh court sentences woman to over 5 years for kidnapping newborn from maternity hospital

The woman, identified as 31-year-old Zaynabbibi Bobojonova from Sharof Rashidov district, was convicted of fraud and kidnapping, according to a court ruling reviewed by Kun.uz.

Court documents reveal that Bobojonova gained the trust of a neighbor who wanted to adopt a child and promised to help secure a baby from a maternity hospital. By citing various pretexts – advancing the adoption queue, arranging paperwork, obtaining medical certificates, and even claiming the baby needed treatment – she fraudulently collected a total of 5.55 million UZS from her neighbor.

On 31 January 2025, she entered the Jizzakh maternity hospital, posing as someone connected to the staff, and abducted one of the twin babies born to citizen Pokiza Hamroyeva. She handed the baby over to her neighbor and left. When news of the abduction spread on social media the following day, the neighbor confronted Bobojonova, who then called the police and admitted to taking the child.

The infant was safely returned to the mother. Bobojonova was taken into custody and later stood trial.

The Jizzakh city criminal court found her guilty under Article 168 (fraud), part 1, and Article 137 (kidnapping), part 2(b), of the Criminal Code. She was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in prison and ordered to compensate her neighbor in the amount of 5.55 million UZS.

The appellate panel of the Jizzakh regional criminal court upheld the initial verdict without changes.