In Uzbekistan's Surkhandarya region, a judge's assistant has been detained on suspicion of corruption. He allegedly promised two defendants to reduce the assessed damages of 6.3 billion soums, secure the cancellation of their pre-trial detention, and arrange a punishment not involving imprisonment.

According to the State Security Service, the assistant to the senior judge of the regional court abused his official position for illegal enrichment.

The criminal case against the two defendants was being heard in the Angor District Court. The judge's assistant reportedly promised to obtain a court ruling to re-evaluate the damages downward, impose a non-custodial sentence, and revoke the pre-trial detention measure.

For his services, he demanded and received $53,000 from a relative of the defendants. He was apprehended by State Security Service and prosecutor's office officers while receiving the money.

A criminal case has been initiated against the assistant under Article 168, Part 4, Clause 'a' (Fraud) and Articles 28, 211 (Bribery) of the Criminal Code. Investigative actions are ongoing.

Source: kun.uz