Uzbek man in 2009 taxi murder case granted retrial after 16 years

An Uzbek man who spent more than 16 years in prison after being convicted of robbery and murder was granted a retrial on Thursday. Bozorov Akmal, now 37, was released from Changwon Prison following a court decision that the initial investigation was riddled with serious flaws. The Changwon District Court suspended the execution of his sentence while the retrial is underway.

Akmal walked out of the prison to the tears of his father, who had waited outside. "I have suffered greatly, feeling that I was wrongfully imprisoned," Akmal expressed. "But at the same time, I am truly sorry for the great pain this could cause the victim's family." "I will speak truthfully throughout the remaining court proceedings."

The case originated on March 24, 2009, when a taxi driver in his 50s was found dead in his taxi in an alley in Myeongseo-dong, Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. On July 6 of that year, police arrested three individuals, including Akmal, then 19, in connection with a different taxi robbery. Police later identified Akmal as a suspect in the murder case as well.