Former employees of Uzbekistan's Labor Migration Agency are on trial for allegedly collecting millions of dollars to illegally send citizens to work in South Korea, according to court officials.

The trial is being held at the Bektemir District Criminal Court in Tashkent, presided over by Judge Dadakhonova, as confirmed by Tashkent city courts to UzNews.uz.

The preliminary investigation was conducted by the General Prosecutor's Office. The defendants are identified as U.G., Sh.T., A.A., and S.S.

According to the indictment, A.A. devised a scheme in which accomplices were to find citizens wishing to work in South Korea and assist them in passing exams.

Between 2023 and 2024, the group collected $2,606,295 and 60.7 million Uzbek soums from 343 citizens. They also allegedly patronized the activities of the private employment agency Etos.

Using the agency's license to recruit workers abroad, the defendants organized the dispatch of compatriots to South Korea, collecting $143,700 and 260 million soums from 23 individuals.

Additionally, they received $2,749,995 and 320.7 million soums in bribes. To launder the proceeds, they purchased cars and registered them in their own names or those of close relatives.

The defendants are charged under the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan: Article 210, Part 3, clauses a and b (bribe-taking on an especially large scale by an organized group); Article 243 (money laundering); and Article 301, Part 1 (abuse of power or negligence).

Source: www.uznews.uz