A police officer in Tashkent has been criminally charged for accepting bribes in exchange for protecting women engaged in prostitution. Kun.uz reviewed court documents.

According to the court verdict, citizen S.B., born in 1993, worked as a senior prevention inspector in the Yakkasaray district. He demanded a monthly bribe of $400 from a woman renting an apartment in his assigned area. In return, he promised not to take action against women providing intimate services in a house in the 'Damarik' mahalla.

The inspector allegedly offered 'protection' to the prostitutes for this money, as well as warnings about police raids. S.B. was detained on November 28, 2025, by officers of the State Security Service and the Internal Security Department of the Tashkent City Police while receiving $400 from the complainant. He was placed in custody the same day.

In court, S.B. partially admitted his guilt, claiming he had never taken money from the complainant before. 'I took money from her for the first time. I had never spoken to her before. I did not use the services of prostitutes. I asked about the girls only to check if there were minors among them. I asked for $400 only for my personal needs,' he testified.

The complainant's testimony painted a different picture. She stated that the inspector also used the prostitutes' services in exchange for turning a blind eye. 'In return for protection, he sometimes came and had sex with the girls. Also, sometimes saying he needed money, he took from 200,000 soums to $400,' she said.

On April 23, 2026, the Mirabad District Criminal Court found S.B. guilty under Part 1 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code (Bribery). He was sentenced to 4 years in prison and banned from working in the internal affairs system for 2 years.

Source: kun.uz