Orthodontist's Ex-Wife Arrested for His Murder

The ex-wife of a Queens orthodontist who was fatally shot in a playground in front of his 4-year-old daughter has been arrested and charged with his murder, police officials said yesterday.

Dr. Mazoltuv Borukhova had been involved in a contentious custody battle with her former husband, Dr. Daniel Malakov, according to his family members, and allegedly hired the suspected shooter, Mikhail Mallayev, to kill him. Police officials said she was arrested yesterday without incident at her Queens residence at 6:05 p.m. She was charged with murder in the first degree and conspiracy for the October 28, 2007, shooting.

Mr. Mallayev, a resident of Georgia, was arrested January 16, 2008, after NYPD detectives matched his fingerprints from a homemade silencer left at the scene.