Dentist's killing tears at Jewish community
Marital turmoil, shooting upsets New York's conservative Bukharian Jews
updated 2:53 p.m. PT, Sat., March. 29, 2008
NEW YORK - More than five months since Dr. Daniel Malakov was shot to
death,
neighbors still come up to his father to offer condolences. But some
refuse
to offer a word to the family of the slain orthodontist's estranged wife.
Dr. Mazaltov Borukhova is accused of paying a distant cousin nearly
$20,000
to shoot him after losing a bitter custody battle over their 5-year-old
daughter. He was shot execution-style in front of Borukhova and the girl
near a playground. The shooting has roiled New York's close-knit community
of conservative Bukharian Jews and, although the case is still in the
courts, many in their community have already reached their verdicts
against
the wife's family. "The community doesn't want to communicate with them,"
said Efraim Penhasov, 60, who lives near Daniel's office. "They're scared
to
talk to them, because everybody knows they killed Daniel." Istat
Borukhova,
the family matriarch, vehemently denied those claims.
"Whatever the Malakov family says is a lie," Istat Borukhova said through
a
translator. "If you do not agree with whatever they say, you're their
enemy
and they will smash you. Everyone knows this in the community." The ill
will
between the two families has escalated. About a month after Mazaltov
Borukhova's arrest, her sister, Natella Natanova, was charged with
threatening the life one of Daniel's brothers if he testified. Borukhova's
family no longer attends the Beth Gavriel Bukharian Congregation in
Queens,
where Malakov's father, Khaika Malakov, goes every Saturday to recite a
prayer for his son in the ancient language of Aramaic.
The community is made up of about 40,000 Bukharian immigrants from
Uzbekistan and other former Soviet states. It is the largest Bukharian
community in the U.S. Many came to Queens after the Soviet Union collapsed
in the early 1990s. "Daniel was very loved in his community," said Olga
Allayev, 25. Families joined by matrimony Daniel's family is held in
high-esteem in their community. Rafael Nektal, editor of The Bukharian
Times, said the Malakovs are "a very well-respected family from
Uzbekistan."
His grandfather and great grandfather were rabbis. His uncle compiled by
memory over 500 pages of Jewish folk songs into a book. His father headed
an
oncology unit at a hospital in Uzbekistan. Borukhova's family, although
accomplished, was not as well-known. Nektal, who knew the family from
Uzbekistan, said they had problems. Borukhova lost her father at an early
age. Daniel, who was 34 when he died, graduated from New York University
and Columbia University.
She met Daniel through a friend while he studied at New York University.
They exchanged phone calls and met for the first time in the school
library.
Not long after, Daniel's family was invited to the Borukhovas for dinner.
The elder Malakov was not impressed. "I thought it's no good, she's no
good," Malakov said. "She doesn't smile, she doesn't talk, she doesn't do
anything. But, I thought, my son found her. They're both doctors." After
the
birth of their daughter, Michelle, Borukhova's mother moved in to help the
couple care for the baby. The marriage deteriorated and a rancorous
custody
battle ensued. "This was a very loud divorce with all kinds of accusations
and lawsuits and many years of court hearings," said Itzhak Yehoshua, head
of the Bukharian Rabbinical Council of America, who counseled the couple.
"They didn't want to cooperate. They were very hurt," Yehoshua said.
Allegations surface against dentist Borukhova, who never officially
divorced
her husband, claimed he had beaten her and ***ually abused their daughter.
Malakov said she and her family repeatedly threatened to kill him if he
took
her daughter away from her.
A judge awarded the father custody a week before his death. He was gunned
down Oct. 28. His wife was charged with murder last month. Her distant
cousin, Mikhail Mallayev, 50, is accused of pulling the trigger. Mallayev
and Borukhova are charged with murder and conspiracy and face life in
prison
if convicted. Borukhova's sister faces up to four years behind bars.
Michelle, now 5, was placed in foster care and a judge recommended she be
placed with one of her uncles.
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