Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Criminal cases have been initiated against senior inspectors of the tax departments in the Andijan and Surkhandarya regions, according to a statement from the State Security Service (SSS).

In Andijan, an officer from the entrepreneurship support department exploited his official position by informing the head of a limited liability company, which sells radio and television equipment in the Altynkul district, that alleged violations had been found in the company’s tax reporting. He claimed that as a result, a large additional tax would be imposed and a full audit launched.

The inspector offered to resolve the matter for a US$3,000 bribe, promising to prevent the audit from taking place. He initially received a US$500 advance from the entrepreneur and was apprehended by officers of the SSS and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes while accepting the remaining amount.

A similar incident occurred in Surkhandarya region. A senior inspector in the department for monitoring tax authorities threatened an on-site inspection of a company dealing in motorcycles and spare parts in the Jarkurgan district. He demanded a US$2,500 bribe and was caught red-handed upon receiving the full sum.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated under paragraph “b” of part 3 of Article 168 (fraud committed using official position) and part 1 of Article 211 (acceptance of a bribe) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention.