Regional Electric Networks Employees Arrested for Corruption

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Uzbekistan have uncovered and suppressed major corruption offenses within territorial divisions of the Regional Electric Networks (REN) joint-stock company during comprehensive operational activities. The illegal actions of officials, involving the extortion of funds and abuse of official authority, were recorded in the Surxondaryo and Andijan regions.

The first incident was detected in the Surxondaryo region. An engineer of the Shurchi district department of the Energosavdo branch of JSC REN abused his official status to make illegal demands against the owner of a private retail store.

The employee demanded a bribe of US$1,000 in exchange for not forwarding materials to the courts regarding a previously drawn-up act on violating electricity use rules, canceling fines, and assisting in the installation and official registration of a new metering device. As an initial installment, the suspect received US$200 and 1 million 50 thousand soums from the entrepreneur.

The engineer was caught red-handed during a joint special operation by the State Security Service (SSS) Directorate for the Surxondaryo region, internal affairs bodies, and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes while receiving the remaining part of the sum, which amounted to US$500 and 2.4 million soums.

The second instance of corruption was halted in the Balykchy district of the Andijan region, where the deputy head of the district electricity supply enterprise came under investigation. Using his official position, the official extorted monetary rewards from subordinates to ensure a positive evaluation of their monthly work reports, which directly affect the calculation of wages and bonuses.

To implement the scheme, he planned to use his administrative connections within the Andijan regional branch of JSC REN. SSS divisions and the Department under the Prosecutor General's Office arrested the official in his office at the moment of the transfer of US$300, which had been centrally collected by the employees of the enterprise.

The seized funds have been attached to the investigation materials. Criminal cases have been officially initiated against the individuals involved in both uncovered cases, and urgent investigative actions are underway.