A major corruption case has been uncovered in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region, where officials from the regional department of preschool and school education are accused of embezzling 1.1 billion soums (approximately $86,000) in budget funds. The Prosecutor General’s Office announced the launch of a criminal investigation.

According to the press service of the Anti-Corruption Department under the Prosecutor General’s Office, an audit revealed that the suspects purchased 90,863 units of liquid soap at inflated prices. The resulting difference was allegedly misappropriated or embezzled from the state budget.

Investigative actions are ongoing, and further details, including the identities of those involved, have not been disclosed due to the ongoing probe.

This case follows a similar corruption scandal in the Davlatabad district of Namangan region, where officials replaced the brand of heating boilers for schools and embezzled one billion soums. Such incidents highlight persistent governance challenges in Uzbekistan’s education sector.

Source: podrobno.uz