Criminal Case Opened Over US$21.1 Million Gas Losses in Karakalpakstan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Authorities in Karakalpakstan have opened a criminal investigation into officials at the territorial gas supply enterprise Khududgaz Karakalpakstan following the discovery of 251.5 billion soums (approximately US$21.1 million) in damage to state and public interests, UzDaily.uz reported.

According to the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General's Office of Uzbekistan, enterprise officials recorded discrepancies between the volume of natural gas received by the organization and the volume delivered to consumers simply as routine operational losses. The officials failed to establish or investigate the causes behind the shortfalls.

Investigators determined that these accounting practices resulted in financial damage totaling 251.5 billion soums.

A criminal case has been initiated under Article 167 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, which covers embezzlement through misappropriation or theft, as well as Article 205, which pertains to abuse of power or official authority. The investigation into the matter remains ongoing.