Tax Official Detained in Syrdarya Bribery Case

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A senior official of the regional tax authority in Syrdarya Region has been detained following an anti-corruption operation conducted by the State Security Service, the regional prosecutor’s office, the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, and the tax authority’s compliance and anti-corruption unit.

According to investigators, the official abused his position by demanding a bribe from the head of a limited liability company engaged in the sale of jewelry. He claimed that more than 1 billion soums in turnover had been concealed and that mandatory payments had been evaded, subsequently issuing allegedly fictitious penalties totaling 145 million soums.

In exchange for canceling the fine and facilitating the company’s continued operations, the official received a piece of jewelry worth approximately 10 million soums. He was detained with material evidence immediately after the transfer.

A criminal case has been initiated, and investigative actions are ongoing.