Bukhara Region Health Official Detained Over Bribery Charges

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A head of a district health department in the Bukhara region has been detained while allegedly receiving a bribe, with additional cases of illegal handling of budget funds also identified, according to law enforcement authorities.

According to the investigation, a contract worth 1 billion 2 million soums was concluded between the district health department and a limited liability company engaged in the wholesale trade of medicines and medical products.

Initially, 30% of the contract amount was transferred to the company’s bank account. Later, the head of the district health department allegedly demanded a “reward” of 15% of the contract value — equivalent to 150 million soums — for transferring the remaining 70% and ensuring further cooperation.

As a result of an оперативное operation conducted by the State Security Service, he was detained while receiving 11,800 US dollars through intermediaries involving his wife.

It was also established that earlier in the year the official allocated 448 million soums for employees of family polyclinics on the condition that half of the funds would be returned, and subsequently unlawfully received 92 million soums back.

A criminal case has been initiated.

The official is being investigated under Articles 210 (receiving a bribe) and 167 (embezzlement or misappropriation) of the Criminal Code, while a representative of the LLC is being investigated under Article 211 (giving a bribe). A preliminary investigation is ongoing.