The key facts

  • Former deputy khokims of Bostan district found guilty under Part 2 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code (taking a bribe)
  • U.S. received 6 years, Sh.D. — 5 years 6 months; both barred from holding office for 2 years
  • Bribes were demanded from farmers allegedly for fulfilling the export plan: 5 million soums for 5 hectares and 65 million soums for 65 hectares

Verdict in the bribery case

Former deputy khokims of Bostan district — U.S., who oversaw agriculture and water management, and Sh.D., responsible for investment, industry and trade — were found guilty of taking a bribe. According to Kun.uz, which reviewed the court document, the verdict was handed down by the Qo‘rg‘ontepa district criminal court under Part 2 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code (taking a bribe). U.S. was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment, Sh.D. — to 5 years and 6 months. In addition, both convicts were barred for 2 years from holding positions in state or state-affiliated organizations. The appellate and supervisory instances left the verdict unchanged.

Circumstances of the case

According to court materials, 45-year-old U.S., who served as deputy khokim for agriculture and water management and head of the district agriculture department, was responsible for fulfilling the export plan by the district's farms specializing in horticulture and vegetable growing. He demanded 1 million soums per hectare of land from farmers, allegedly for fulfilling the export plan on their behalf. From the head of one of the farms he demanded 5 million soums for 5 hectares, of which he received 4 million soums as a bribe.

Caught in the act of taking a bribe

U.S. also conspired with Sh.D., who held the post of deputy khokim and head of the department of investment, industry and trade. Both demanded 65 million soums from a diversified farm of the district for 65 hectares allocated for horticulture and vegetable growing — also under the pretext of fulfilling the export plan on behalf of the farmers. Sh.D. was detained during a special operational procedure at the moment of receiving 40 million soums as a bribe. It was reported that both deputy khokims were caught red-handed while taking a bribe.