3 lawyers detained for bribery and fraud

The State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan has detained three lawyers in the Kashkadarya region on charges of abusing their professional positions to commit bribery and fraud.

According to reports, the detentions were carried out during a joint operation conducted by the State Security Service and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General's Office.

In one case, a lawyer from a law firm in the city of Karshi was detained while receiving \$4,000 in exchange for allegedly arranging the replacement of a preventive detention order issued by the Chirakchi District Criminal Court against two individuals. The lawyer claimed he could influence the decision through acquaintances in the judicial system.

In a separate case, another lawyer from a Karshi-based law firm signed a legal services contract with a citizen who had sought assistance in a case pending before the Karshi Inter-District Civil Court. The lawyer collected a service fee of 2 million sums and an additional 1.5 million sums as state duty. He was later detained with material evidence while claiming to have received an additional \$500 from an acquaintance within the judiciary.

In a third case, a lawyer from another Karshi law firm promised to influence the outcome of a hooliganism case under investigation by the Mubarak District Internal Affairs Department. Without signing a formal agreement, the lawyer took 2 million sums in advance from a citizen seeking legal help. During an emergency operation, the lawyer was caught while accepting an additional 2 million sums after claiming to have resolved the matter through an investigator.

Criminal cases have been opened against the three lawyers under Part 3, Clause “c” of Article 168 (Fraud) and Part 1 of Article 28,211 (Bribery) of the Criminal Code. Investigative proceedings are currently underway.