Prosecutor, judge’s assistant, and lawyer arrested in Uzbekistan on corruption charges

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Criminal cases have been opened in Uzbekistan against a prosecutor, a senior assistant to a judge, and a lawyer on suspicion of corruption-related offenses.

According to the State Security Service (SSS), a prosecutor from one of the departments of the Surkhandarya regional prosecutor’s office demanded US$2,000 from a citizen born in 1999 in exchange for not initiating a criminal case despite evidence of an offense.

On 5 September, he received part of the money — 5 million soums transferred to his bank card. During an operation in Termez, SSS officers detained him with material evidence while receiving an additional US$1,300. A criminal case was opened under paragraph “v,” part 3 of Article 168 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, and he was placed in custody.

In another case, a senior assistant to a judge of the Andijan Regional Court’s Civil Division filed a property division lawsuit on behalf of a local woman against her ex-husband. In return for a favorable ruling, he demanded US$500 through his “high-ranking contacts.”

He had already received US$200, and was detained by SSS and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes while accepting the remaining 3.8 million soums. A criminal case was opened against him under paragraph “v,” part 3 of Article 168 and part 1 of Articles 28 and 211 of the Criminal Code. He has been placed under arrest.

A similar case was recorded in Jizzakh region, where a lawyer from the local bar association, together with a resident of Mirzachul district, demanded US$6,000 for the early release of an inmate from a settlement-type penal colony in Syrdarya region. They were caught red-handed by SSS and prosecutors while receiving the money. A criminal case was launched under paragraph “v,” part 3 of Article 25, Article 168, and part 1 of Article 28, Article 211 of the Criminal Code. An investigation is ongoing.

Law enforcement authorities noted that investigations are continuing, and preventive measures have been applied against the suspects.