Corruption Cases Uncovered in Tashkent and Navoi Regions

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — New cases of bribery have been uncovered in the Tashkent and Navoi regions, the press service of the State Security Service (SSS) reported.

According to the SSS, a senior inspector from the field tax audit department of the regional tax administration in Tashkent region was detained. Investigators found that he had demanded a bribe of 5,000 US dollars from the head of a farming enterprise specializing in horticulture and animal husbandry in Angren. In exchange for this sum, the official promised to secure a favorable conclusion following the audit and to guarantee that no further tax inspections would be conducted for one year.

As a result of an operational measure carried out by officers of the State Security Service in cooperation with the Department under the General Prosecutor’s Office, the tax inspector was caught red-handed while receiving the bribe.

A similar case was recorded in the Navoi region. The director and chief accountant of a district children’s and youth sports school conspired to embezzle part of the travel funds allocated to a para-athletics coach. According to the investigation, they demanded 40 percent of the total 40,722,000 soums intended for per diem payments to eight athletes who participated in competitions held in Tashkent region earlier this spring.

The chief accountant transferred 10 million soums to the coach, after which he received 3 million soums from him as a bribe. The accountant was detained by officers of the State Security Service and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes at the moment of receiving the money.

Criminal cases have been initiated against all those involved under Part 2 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (“Bribe-taking”). The investigation is ongoing.