Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A court in Tashkent has fined two people involved in a scheme to manufacture and sell counterfeit vehicle registration plates. A 17-year-old resident of the capital was ordered to pay 15 basic calculation units (BCUs), equivalent to 6.6 million soums, while a Kyrgyz citizen was fined 150 BCUs, or 66 million soums, the Tashkent Main Department of Internal Affairs said.
The investigation began after traffic patrol officers stopped a Malibu 2 in the Yunusabad district. The car was being driven by a 17-year-old. During an inspection, officers found that the vehicle had been illegally fitted with a special antenna, a siren and flashing beacons. Its windscreen had also been tinted without the required permit.
Police found a state registration plate in the car’s boot. The teenager said he had borrowed the vehicle from his older brother and obtained the plate from an acquaintance. A criminal case was opened over the manufacture of counterfeit registration plates.
Investigators established that those involved had previously committed similar offences. In one case, officers stopped a Kia in the Mirzo-Ulugbek district, also driven by a minor. The vehicle was equipped with a radio transmitter, flashing beacons, a siren, tinted windows and other illegally installed devices.
Officers also found unidentified state registration plates in the car.
An examination confirmed that the plates were counterfeit. They had been manufactured by a Kyrgyz citizen, who was detained with physical evidence in Andijan Region. According to investigators, members of the scheme ordered counterfeit state registration plates from abroad and sold them.
The case was heard by the Yunusabad District Criminal Court. The minor was found guilty under paragraphs “a” and “b” of Part 3 of Article 227-1 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, which covers the illegal manufacture, transfer or use of state registration plates and vehicle identification numbers, as well as their forgery. Applying Article 57 of the Criminal Code, the court imposed a fine of 15 BCUs.
The Kyrgyz citizen was found guilty under Part 3 of Article 127 of the Criminal Code for involving a minor in criminal activity, as well as under paragraphs “a” and “b” of Part 3 of Article 227-1. He was fined 150 BCUs.
The issue of deporting the convicted Kyrgyz citizen from Uzbekistan will be considered after he pays the imposed fine.
