AKIPRESS.COM - Akmurad Redjepov, former chief of security service of Turkmen president, has reportedly died in prison, reports say.

"The body of the deceased was handed over to relatives for burial. Funeral is due August 17 in Lapab province," Gundogar.org reported.

Blood-clotting was named official cause of death, according to sources of Chronicle of Turkmenistan news agency.

Akmurad Redjepov headed personal security service of Turkmen leader since 1985 and in 1992, the service was reorganized to the Security Service of the President of Turkmenistan. After the death of president Saparmurad Niyazov in December 2006, Redjepov, according to various reports, played crucial role in transferring power to incumbent president Gurbangulya Berdymuhamedov.

Redjepov was dismissed as the chief of security service of Turkmen president in May 2007 and was arrested right after the dismissal.

On July 27, 2007, the Supreme Court of Turkmenistan found him guilty on six counts and sentenced him to 17 years in prison. He reportedly served his sentence incommunicado for 10 years.