Uzbekistan strengthens responsibility for fraud

Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan passed the law on 6 October and Senate approved the document on 12 October. The law came into force from 27 December.

The law introduced changes to article Fraud of the Criminal Code. The article said that fraud is punished with the fine of 50 to 100 times the minimum wage, or correctional labor for up to 2 years, or restriction of freedom from 1 year to 3 years, or imprisonment up to 3 years.

The fraud, committed in the large amount, on preliminary arrangement by group of persons or with the use of computer technology is punished with the fine of 100 to 300 minimum monthly wages, or correctional labor for up to 3 years, or restriction of liberty from 3 to 5 years, or imprisonment from 3 to 5 years.

The same crime committed on a large scale, repeated, or by a dangerous recidivist, or through abuse of office, is punished with the fine of 300 to 400 minimum monthly wages, or correctional labor from 2 to 3 years, or imprisonment from 5 to 8 years with deprivation of certain rights.

Fraud, committed on a large scale, especially dangerous recidivist, or by an organized group or in its interests, shall be punished with the fine of 400 to 600 minimum monthly wages, or imprisonment from 8 to 10 years.

In the case of compensation of the material damage, penalty of restriction of liberty and imprisonment will not be applied.