The key facts

  • The five convicts were sentenced to terms ranging from 5 to 9.5 years imprisonment under the verdict dated July 1, 2026
  • The scheme collected more than 35 billion sums from over 700 people under the pretext of buying new cars
  • To compensate 462 victims, 337 thousand sums each was allocated from the 155.979 million sums received

Verdict in the Surkhan autocenter case

A major auto-related fraud case has concluded in Termez: five participants of a scheme operating under the name of Surkhan autocenter LLC have received real prison terms. This was reported by the investigative department (according to Kun.uz). Under the court verdict dated July 1, 2026, one of the defendants was sentenced to 9.5 years, one to 5 years, and three others to 6 years and 2 months each. The court found them guilty of fraud on an especially large scale, evasion of taxes and fees, unlawful solicitation of funds and property, violation of trade or service rules, as well as the production, forgery, sale or use of documents, stamps, seals and forms.

How the scheme worked

According to the case materials, it all began in 2022: Akmal Turayev, who was engaged in buying and selling cars, founded Surkhan autocenter in early 2024 to give his activities a legal appearance. Without any contracts with car manufacturers, the company collected billions of sums from people with promises of new cars, but the money went not toward purchasing vehicles but to Turayev's personal needs. When missed deadlines sparked discontent among deceived clients, he staged a new trick: he handed cars, bought from acquaintances at inflated prices, to several clients who had 'filed complaints,' and filmed the process, creating the appearance that cars were being delivered to everyone on time. The investigation notes that Turayev's sister, brother, wife and sister-in-law, among others, also took part in the crime.

Scale of the damage and payments to victims

Behind the company's activities lay a scheme that stripped more than 700 citizens of over 35 billion sums. Compensation in the case remains limited so far: 155 million 979 thousand sums were deposited into the regional interior department's deposit account, and it was decided to distribute this among 462 victims at 337 thousand sums each. The court also provided for further compensation to hundreds of victims at the convicts' expense — meaning that the bulk of the collected amounts had not been returned at the time of the verdict, and its recovery remains a separate process.