A court in Chirchik, Tashkent region, has handed down six-year prison sentences to two former law enforcement officers convicted of bribery, falsification of evidence, and the deliberate concealment of a crime. The harsh sentences highlight ongoing concerns regarding institutional integrity and accountability within local security structures, pointing to systemic flaws in oversight.

The case stems from a violent altercation that occurred in February 2026 at a local cafe named 'Bek'. Following the fight, one of the injured participants filed an official complaint with the local authorities. The investigation was initially assigned to a local prevention inspector, who, along with the head of the department, allegedly sought to exploit the situation for financial gain, demanding three thousand dollars to drop the inquiry and suppress the victim's claims.

According to court findings, the department head collected 2,700 dollars near a mosque in Chirchik on February 18. While a portion of the funds was purportedly handed over as compensation to the victim, the corrupt officials reportedly skimmed off parts of the money for themselves. Pressured by the circumstances, the victim signed a statement dropping all claims, which temporarily halted the criminal proceedings before state investigators intervened and reopened the case.

The scheme unraveled when relatives demanded the return of the funds, prompting a citizen to file a formal complaint with the State Security Service. In late April, the inspector was apprehended during a sting operation while attempting to return a portion of the cash. The court ultimately found both former officers guilty, sentencing them to six years in a general-regime penal colony and barring them from holding public office for three years.

Source: podrobno.uz