Journalist investigated following report on bank employee fraud

An administrative case has been initiated against Rukhsora Gafurova, a correspondent for the MY5 television channel, following her investigative report on the fraudulent activities of a bank employee in the Jizzakh region. The development was disclosed by human rights activist and chairman of the "Ezgulik" society, Abdurakhmon Tashanov.  

Gafurova’s report detailed how the bank employee allegedly issued loans under the names of unsuspecting citizens and embezzled the funds.  

"I reviewed the documents pertaining to the violations highlighted in the broadcast. By law, the airing of such a program should have immediately prompted the initiation of a criminal case against the bank employee. Media reports about a crime serve as a legal basis for opening an investigation under the Criminal Procedure Code," Tashanov stated.  

However, instead of launching a criminal case against the bank employee, an administrative case was reportedly initiated against Gafurova at the request of the accused bank employee.  

“It appears the journalist has been accused of insulting the honor and dignity of the bank employee while reporting the crime. Documents reveal that part of the fraudulent loan, taken out in the names of others, was repaid using the plastic card of the bank employee’s husband, Supreme Court Judge Sharofiddin Boliyev. This suggests the judge was aware of the violations and may have shielded the perpetrator. It’s likely that he is also behind the legal action against the journalist,” Tashanov alleged.  

In response to the controversy, the Supreme Council of Judges announced that the Judicial Ethics Commission would investigate the matter.  

"The Judicial Ethics Commission under the Supreme Council of Judges will review social media reports about the alleged involvement of a judiciary representative in the administrative case initiated against the journalist following the broadcast on the ‘Central Studio’ program of MY5 TV channel," the Council stated.  

The Council assured the public that additional details about the investigation's outcome would be provided in due course.