Uzbekistan’s SSS Foils Corruption Scheme in Land Lease

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A criminal case has been opened against an assistant to a hokim (regional governor), an engineer, and a head of agricultural affairs, the State Security Service (SSS) of Uzbekistan reported.

In the Sariosiy district of Surkhandarya region, the assistant to the hokim of one of the citizens’ assemblies, abusing his official position, gained the trust of a citizen born in 1996 and, through his official acquaintances, offered to arrange a 30-year lease of 2.5 hectares of irrigated land from the district hokimiyat reserve in exchange for 29 million soms.

During an operational operation conducted jointly by the SSS, the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, and law enforcement agencies, the assistant to the hokim was detained with physical evidence while receiving the agreed sum.

The pre-investigation revealed that the money was intended to be transferred to an engineer from the “Survilerloyiha” division of the Uzdavlerloyiha Scientific and Project Institute, as well as to the head of the agricultural department of the Sariosiy district.

The operation continued, and both the engineer and the department head were apprehended while receiving the funds, putting an end to their illegal activities.

A criminal case has now been opened against all involved under Articles 168 and 211 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, and investigative actions are ongoing.