Former District Police Chiefs in Fergana Region Under Investigation for Crimes Against School Principal and Tax Official

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Former head of the Furqat District Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Akmal Khuzhaev and his first deputy Jasur Rasulov have been detained in the Fergana region and charged under several articles of the Criminal Code.

According to Kun.uz, the case is linked to a conflict between the Furqat District police leadership and the local tax inspection. In April this year, a school principal reportedly approached the head of the district tax office to request financial assistance for her husband, who had been injured in a car accident. The former police chief, who had a longstanding dispute with the tax official, allegedly used the situation to launch a setup against him.

At the moment of the woman’s visit, plainclothes police officers suddenly appeared, assaulted both the school principal and the tax officer, and tore their clothes, leaving them partially unclothed. The woman was reportedly pressured to sign a false statement accusing the tax officer of sexual assault.

The school principal stated that the act of violence had been pre-planned by DIA officers to discredit and arrest the tax chief. She refused to give false testimony.

Furthermore, the deputy police chief allegedly offered up to US$50,000 through intermediaries to suppress the incident. After her refusal, the woman was subjected to threats, including warnings about possible harm to her children.

An official investigation into the actions of the former law enforcement officers is ongoing.