The State Security Service of Uzbekistan reported the identification of two separate corruption cases in the Namangan and Fergana regions. In Namangan region, the chief architect of the construction and housing utilities department of Namangan district demanded $1,500 from the head of a family-owned enterprise. He promised to formalize project documentation for a car wash built in part of a residential building and to lift a ban on its use.

On April 1, the official received $500 and demanded acceleration of the remaining payment. During an operational measure, he was apprehended in his office while receiving another $1,000. It is noted that the entrepreneur had previously been fined 43.3 million soums by a court decision for constructing the car wash without project documentation. Despite this, the official allegedly did not offer a legal solution to the issue.

In Fergana region, the deputy head of the poverty reduction and employment department of Koshtepa district, through acquaintances, demanded $2,000 from a local citizen for enrollment in the correspondence department of a university in Andijan region. He was caught while receiving the money. Criminal cases have been initiated for both incidents, and investigative actions are underway.

Previously, it was reported that the prosecutor's office had initiated a criminal case against Isomiddin Ismonov, the deputy hokim of Andijan region. He was detained as a suspect on charges of fraud and receiving bribes on a large scale. Footage shows the official counting money, then telling the person who handed over dollar bills: "This is called a debt. You know, such a thing exists?" These cases highlight ongoing corruption challenges in Uzbekistan and the continued efforts to combat them.

Source: www.gazeta.uz