In the Andijan region of Uzbekistan, a deputy head of a commercial bank's regional office was arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) while receiving a bribe, exploiting his official position. This incident occurred as part of anti-corruption efforts in the area, highlighting the persistent challenges of corruption that contribute to economic and social issues in the country.

The official attempted to profit illegally from the sale of a four-story private medical center building in the Asaka district, using his authority over collateral property disposal. The building, initially valued at 16.8 billion soums, failed to sell at auction, leading the bank to take it onto its balance sheet. Capitalizing on this, the deputy head offered to sell the property to a local entrepreneur at a reduced price of 12 billion soums.

In addition to lowering the price, the banker promised to bypass auction procedures by arranging an interest-free loan for 7 years to facilitate the deal. For these services, he demanded a reward of $90,000. During an operational event, the official was caught red-handed while receiving the first installment of $40,000.

A criminal case has been initiated against the detained individual, and investigative actions are underway. Law enforcement authorities urge citizens who encounter similar extortion or corruption incidents to immediately report them via the SSS hotline at 1520, with anonymity and personal data protection guaranteed. This case underscores the ongoing struggles in Uzbekistan's fight against corruption.

Source: podrobno.uz