Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During a series of joint operations conducted by the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor’s Office, a lawyer from a law firm in the city of Karshi was detained.

He had received US$4,000 for promising to legally amend a previously imposed preventive measure by the Chirakchi District Court against two individuals to a more lenient one. The lawyer claimed to have connections with officials working within the justice system.

In another case, a lawyer from the same firm signed a contract with a client seeking legal assistance in a civil case pending before the Karshi Interdistrict Court. For his services, he received 2 million soums, plus 1.5 million soums as payment of the state fee. However, the lawyer later stated that he could influence the court’s decision through acquaintances within the judiciary. He was caught red-handed while receiving an additional US$500 as a bribe.

The third incident involved another lawyer from Karshi who, without signing an official agreement, promised a citizen assistance in obtaining a favorable outcome in a hooliganism case being investigated by the Muborak District Police Department. He claimed he could achieve the desired result through the investigator and received 2 million soums. Later, while accepting an additional 2 million soums for the allegedly achieved result, the lawyer was detained by law enforcement officers.

Criminal cases have been initiated against all three lawyers under paragraph “v” of part 3 of Article 168, as well as part 1 of Articles 28 and 211 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Investigations are ongoing.