Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Podrobno.uz. Officers of the State Security Service (SSS) have thwarted a major corruption scheme in the Namangan region, involving an investigator from the regional police department and a lawyer from a local bar association. The accomplices were caught red-handed demanding a large sum of money to illegally close a criminal case.

The extortion was based on a criminal case handled by the investigator of the regional police department. The case involved a 20-year-old resident of the Chust district. Abusing his official position, the police officer decided to profit from the accused and offered to completely drop the charges in his favor. He valued his "service" at $40,000. To protect himself and avoid direct money transfer, the investigator enlisted a lawyer as an intermediary who had no official connection to the case.

The money transfer took place in the Chust district under the control of SSS operatives, who divided the special operation into two stages. First, the security services caught the intermediary lawyer red-handed while he was receiving the full amount of $40,000 from the accused's father. Immediately after, under SSS control, the intermediary met with the investigator and handed over the bulk of the money—$30,000—after which the investigator's illegal actions were finally stopped.

Criminal cases have been opened against the detainees. The investigator is charged under Article 210 of the Criminal Code ("Bribery"), and his accomplice lawyer under Article 212 ("Mediation in Bribery"). The court has ordered both suspects to be held in custody; they have been sent to a pre-trial detention center pending investigation.

The State Security Service reminds citizens that if they encounter such facts of extortion and corruption by officials, they should immediately report it to the short number 1520. Full anonymity and confidentiality are guaranteed.

Source: podrobno.uz