Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As part of ongoing anti-corruption efforts, officers from the State Security Service Directorate of Kashkadarya Region, in cooperation with the Department under the General Prosecutor’s Office, conducted a special operation resulting in the detention of the deputy khokim of Dehkanabad District.

Investigators established that the official gained the trust of the head of a local farming enterprise and demanded a bribe of 21 million Uzbek soums in exchange for facilitating the closure of the annual target involving the delivery of 300 kilograms of silkworm cocoons.

Out of this amount, 7 million soums were handed over directly in the official’s office, where he was apprehended in possession of the marked cash.

A criminal case has been initiated against the individual under paragraph “b” of Part 3, Article 168, and Part 1 of Articles 28 and 211 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The suspect has been placed in pre-trial detention as a preventive measure.

Investigations are currently ongoing.