A bank employee in Uzbekistan’s Fergana region has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for murdering a client and disposing of the body in a canal. The case was reported by the “Millar” TV program. The crime occurred on March 30 of this year.

During the pre-investigation probe, the suspect, identified as A.T., a credit department specialist, confessed. He stated that the missing S.E. had come to the bank branch that day to apply for a car loan under a promotional campaign. They argued at the branch and remained together until 1:00 p.m. Later, they drove off in S.E.’s Tracker vehicle to talk. Upon reaching the “Taraqqiyot” neighborhood in Uzbekistan district, another quarrel broke out.

According to the confession, A.T. stabbed S.E. multiple times in the neck with a kitchen knife he was carrying, intentionally killing him inside the car. He left the body in the vehicle, returned to work, and continued working until 7:00 p.m. Afterwards, he drove to a section of the Great Fergana Canal flowing through the “To‘lash” neighborhood of Uzbekistan district and threw the body into the water. The victim’s body was found only six days later.

The trial took place at the Kokand City Court for Criminal Cases. The court established that the defendant, having learned that the client had $5,700 for the car payment, devised a plan to seize the money. He gained the victim’s trust and drove him out of the city in the Tracker vehicle he was driving. During the quarrel, the defendant inflicted more than 20 stab wounds to the victim’s neck and various parts of his body with the kitchen knife he carried in his car, killing him.

He then loaded the body into his car, returned to the bank, and worked until the end of his shift. In the evening, to destroy evidence, he dumped the body into the Great Fergana Canal. “He was our son, begged for after three daughters. I gave $5,700 to buy an Onix. My husband and I prayed. He left the house happy,” said the victim’s mother.

The Kokand City Court for Criminal Cases found the defendant guilty under Article 97, Part 2, clauses “j” and “i” of the Criminal Code (murder with extreme cruelty and for mercenary motives). He was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment, to be served in a general regime colony. The court also ordered him to compensate the victim’s legal representative for material and moral damages.

Source: www.gazeta.uz