Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The head of the mahalla and state programmes department at the regional centre of a bank has been detained in Tashkent region on suspicion of illegally receiving money in connection with land deals.
The operation was conducted by officers of the State Security Service’s Tashkent region department jointly with the Department under the Prosecutor General’s Office as part of efforts to combat economic crimes.
According to the authorities, the bank employee demanded US$4.25 million from a buyer for the sale of a 16.05-hectare plot of land held on the balance sheet of the administration of Kuyichirchik district.
The plot had previously been sold to his father in 2024 by the territorial department of the Agency for Management of State Assets through an electronic online auction under a lease right for use for livestock farming.
In addition, the suspect allegedly demanded money to arrange, through his acquaintances among officials, the allocation of another 4 hectares of land held in the district administration’s reserve.
During the operation, the bank employee was detained with material evidence while receiving US$100,000 as an advance payment from the requested amount.
A criminal case has been opened against him. Investigative proceedings are currently underway.
