Four Suspects Arrested in Istanbul in Murder Case of Businessman from Bukhara Region

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Four suspects have been detained in Istanbul in connection with the murder of a businessman whose body was discovered on 17 October 2025, in the Jondor district of Bukhara region.

The remains, partially covered with soil and in an advanced state of decomposition, showed stab wounds. Identification of the victim was made possible through DNA comparison between samples sent from Uzbekistan and DNA from his children living in Turkey.

According to investigators, the businessman arrived in Uzbekistan on 28 May 2025, and his relatives reported him missing on 3 June. The investigation traced the perpetrators through a vehicle passing near the crime scene.

The car had been rented by an acquaintance of the victim in Istanbul. Luminol testing of the car interior revealed traces of blood matching the victim’s DNA. After the crime, the renter returned to Turkey and sent a friend to Uzbekistan to return the vehicle to the rental agency, attempting to conceal involvement.

During questioning by the Istanbul Police Homicide Department, the main suspect confessed to the murder. He stated that the motive was a financial dispute: the partners had planned to open a restaurant in Uzbekistan, but the deal fell through.

The suspect demanded the return of a US$20,000 investment, which led to a conflict inside the car that ended in the businessman’s death. The body was moved deeper into the forest and covered with soil before the perpetrators left the country.

All four suspects have now been brought before the court, and the investigation is ongoing.