Bribe scandal in Andijan: Deputy mayor and other officials demanded $600,000 bribe for land, caught taking $150,000

The former deputy mayor of Andijan district and the head of the local statistics department demanded $600,000 from an entrepreneur in exchange for allocating 6 hectares of land. In another case, a deputy mayor requested $20,000 for 4 hectares of land. All individuals involved were apprehended with physical evidence of the crime.

Photo: Frame from the video

Officers of the State Security Service uncovered the corrupt actions of the deputy mayor and the heads of the statistics and pension departments.

In particular, the deputy mayor of Khanabad city in Andijan region and the previously convicted head of an LLC engaged in alcohol trade were caught red-handed while receiving a $20,000 bribe.

It was discovered that the two had conspired to allocate a 4-hectare plot of land from the local government’s reserve to a local entrepreneur for establishing a factory producing mattresses, profiled sheeting, and baby diapers. They had arranged for the land to be listed as a separate lot in a public auction and won it for 2 billion UZS, promising to officially register it in the entrepreneur’s name.

Additionally, the former deputy mayor of Andijan district, the head of the Andijan city statistics department, and two other individuals conspired to demand $600,000 from an entrepreneur planning to build a factory for children's products. They promised to secure a 6-hectare plot from the “Silk Road” Free Economic Zone through a public auction and were caught after receiving an advance payment of $150,000.

It was also established that the former first deputy head of the Andijan regional office of the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights – currently the head of a private employment agency – was involved in the scheme. He had previously taken $11,000 from the entrepreneur under the pretense of helping facilitate the land allocation.

In a separate incident in Tashkent region, the head of the Ohangaron district branch of the Non-Budgetary Pension Fund under the Ministry of Economy and Finance was caught accepting a $1,500 bribe. He had promised to restore a local resident’s lost employment record book and facilitate their retirement.

Criminal cases have been initiated against all individuals involved, and pre-trial detention measures have been applied. Investigations are currently underway.

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