Uzbekistan Exposes Judge–Bank Staffer Corruption Scheme

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Illegal activities involving a judge of the judicial panel for economic cases of the Syrdarya Regional Court and an official of the Gulistan branch of Agrobank have been uncovered in Uzbekistan.

The operation was conducted by officers of the State Security Service in cooperation with the Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Judicial Council.

According to the investigation, the case centered on the consideration of a cassation appeal in an economic dispute related to the construction of a multi-storey building in Gulistan owned by a local entrepreneur. It was established that the judge handling the case, despite the possibility of a lawful resolution in favor of one of the parties, entered into a conspiracy with a close acquaintance who worked at the bank.

As reported, under the agreement they demanded US$7,500 from the entrepreneur in exchange for facilitating a favorable decision.

During an operational procedure, the bank employee received US$5,500 of the agreed amount. After the court decision was issued in favor of the entrepreneur, he transferred USD 3,600 to the judge, after which the illegal activities were stopped.

A criminal case has been initiated, and preliminary investigative actions are currently underway.