Bank Employee Detained in Tashkent Region for Attempted US$110,000 Bribe

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — An employee of one of the leading commercial banks in the Tashkent region has been detained for attempting to solicit a bribe of US$110,000 in exchange for "resolving" 72.95 billion soums in taxes and mandatory payments owed by a limited liability company engaged in the production of construction materials.

According to investigators, the deputy head of the bank's operations department offered to use his connections with government officials to "take care of the matter."

As a result of a joint operation conducted by the State Security Service, the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, and internal affairs agencies, the suspect was apprehended while receiving US$30,000 of the agreed sum, with material evidence secured at the scene.

A criminal case has been opened against him under Articles 168, Part 4, Paragraph "a"; 28; and 211, Part 3, Paragraph "a" of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The suspect is being held in custody and an investigation is underway.