The Mirzachul District Court for Criminal Cases has issued a verdict in the high-profile case concerning the death of a one-and-a-half-year-old girl at the private kindergarten "Mehrli Yulduz" in October 2025 and related financial fraud. The trial revealed that the institution's director grossly violated regulations by admitting the child, who was under 2 years old at the time, despite legal restrictions prohibiting children under 3 from being enrolled in "small groups," and did so without any documents or medical certificates.

On October 24, 2025, a single teacher was left to supervise 26 children, contrary to norms requiring an assistant for the group. Due to inadequate supervision, the child wandered into the yard and fell into a pool. A forensic medical examination confirmed that death resulted from mechanical asphyxiation due to drowning.

The investigation also uncovered financial misconduct: the director falsified records in the electronic management system, listing herself as a full-time active teacher without performing those duties. She confiscated subordinates' bank cards, paying them only partial salaries in cash while embezzling the remainder. The total amount of misappropriated budget funds exceeded 29 million Uzbek soums.

On March 17, 2026, the court found the officials guilty. The director was convicted for improper performance of professional duties resulting in death, embezzlement, abuse of authority, and forgery. She was sentenced to 5 years of restricted freedom with a fine of 20.6 million soums and banned from holding leadership positions in the education system for 2 years.

The teacher was found guilty of improper performance of duties. Considering her remorse and having minor children, the court sentenced her to 3 years of restricted freedom with a prohibition on pedagogical activities for 2 years. The court also ordered the former director to compensate the state for the material damage caused.

Source: podrobno.uz