A policeman has been hailed a hero after he jumped out of a 13th floor window in order to catch a suspected paedophile in Kazakhstan.
Bakytzhan Bakirov, 36, and partner Meyir Nesipbay were called to an apartment in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, to reports that a man had broken in and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl.
When the pair arrived, suspect Citizen Sh ran and jumped out of the window – with Bakirov following close behind him.
Bakirov said it only occurred to him later that Sh might have been trying to kill himself rather than be arrested.
Fortunately for the officer, there was a balcony just two storeys below which he and Sh landed on.
Despite suffering a broken foot, Bakirov managed to hold on to Sh until backup arrived, and has now been honoured with a bravery medal.
Sh is also accused of stealing £13,000 from the girl’s house and ‘terrorising’ her four-year-old brother.
If convicted, Sh will undergo chemical castration under Kazakhstan’s tough laws.
‘I jumped out before realising it, but there was no fear. I had no idea there was a terrace two floors below….
‘You don’t think about anything – the main thing is to catch the criminal, so I jumped after him.
After three operations on this foot ‘doctors told me I will still be able to chase criminals’.
He was awarded a bravery medal by police chiefs, as was his colleague who rushed to his aid.
