A patrol car, uniform, and police ID — these symbols of law enforcement have been turned into tools of massive fraud in Samarkand. Dozens of people trusted Bunyod Yazdonov, an officer of the regional traffic police department (UBDD), who took their money promising high returns from a construction project in Bukhara, then stopped repaying debts.

One of the victims, car dealer Shahriyor Oblakulov, initially saw Yazdonov repay loans on time, building trust. Oblakulov gave his own cars to Yazdonov, then borrowed money and vehicles from acquaintances to pass on to him. But by autumn 2025, payments ceased.

“Yazdonov and his ‘opahon’ Shakhnoza Khushmurodova gave me fake documents for a house and a shop as collateral. Now Yazdonov owes me $258,000, Khushmurodova $35,000,” Oblakulov said.

Another victim, Afzal Ganiyev, reported that Yazdonov even used his official ID as collateral, which Ganiyev kept for the debt. Later, the UBDD demanded its return. Yazdonov’s debt to Ganiyev stands at $70,000.

According to victims, the officer’s total debts amount to millions of dollars, though exact figures remain unknown. Audio recordings reveal Khushmurodova initially promised to cover the debts but later spoke of “risky deals” and threatened not to pay a dime if Yazdonov went to prison.

Yazdonov was dismissed from the police on November 12, 2025. In January 2026, a criminal case was opened under Article 168 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code. The investigation has been ongoing for over three months, but victims have received no clear answers. The case was transferred to Tashkent region “to ensure objectivity,” creating additional hurdles for the victims.

Source: kun.uz