Two Detained in Tashkent Over Alleged US$420,000 Extortion

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Officers of Uzbekistan's State Security Service and the Department under the Prosecutor General's Office have detained a lawyer from the Almazar branch of a private bank's banking services centre and an alleged accomplice on suspicion of attempting to extort US$420,000 under the pretext of helping secure a preferential loan.

According to the investigation, the bank lawyer conspired with a 47-year-old resident of Yangiyul district in the Tashkent Region who had previously been convicted of a crime. The two allegedly gained the trust of a businessman planning to start a business and promised to arrange a preferential loan of US$3.5 million in his name.

The suspects allegedly demanded a fee equal to 12% of the loan amount, or US$420,000, for their services.

They were caught in the act during an operation while allegedly receiving an advance payment of US$50,000.

A criminal case has been opened. The suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention.

The investigation is ongoing.