Criminal Case Opened in Tashkent Against Tax Inspector for Bribery

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The chief inspector of the tax audit department of the Tashkent City Office of the State Tax Committee has become the subject of a criminal case.

The case was initiated as part of an investigation conducted by the Mirzo-Ulugbek District Criminal Court concerning officials of a limited liability company registered in Surkhandarya region, engaged in textile production, under Articles 167 and 184 of the Criminal Code.

During an inspection organized by the Department for Combating Economic Crimes together with the Tashkent City Office of the State Tax Committee, the company was assessed additional taxes totaling 8.7 billion soums.

Following a court ruling to conduct a repeat audit, the chief inspector, while carrying out the inspection, informed the company representatives that he could cancel the additional tax assessment and demanded a bribe of US$5,000 for this purpose. He was unable to fully cancel the additional taxes.

When returning the previously received amount at the company’s office, the inspector was detained by officers of the State Security Service with material evidence in hand.

A criminal case has been opened against him under Part 2, clause “v” of Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (receiving a bribe). The court has chosen detention as a preventive measure. Investigative actions are ongoing.