Man arrested in Khorezm for attempting to bribe investigator

Law enforcement authorities in Khorezm region have apprehended a suspect attempting to bribe an investigator with $25,000 to terminate a criminal case, according to the regional Department of Internal Affairs.

The suspect, a resident of the Oshoqqala neighborhood, Koshkopir district, was allegedly trying to help another individual avoid prosecution. The accused, born in 2004, had been detained on April 15 for illegally posessing and distributing 750 grams of opium. The case was being investigated by the Urganch district inquiry department under pretrial detention.

To halt legal proceedings, the 1979-born suspect approached the investigator, requesting case dismissal in exchange for a bribe. He initially offered $25,000, despite being repeatedly warned that bribery is a criminal offense.

On May 8, during a joint operation involving the Department of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor’s Office, authorities caught the suspect handing over $20,000 to the investigator. A search revealed an additional $5,000 in his pocket, which was seized as evidence.

A criminal case has been opened under Article 211 (Bribery), Part 2 of the Criminal Code, and preliminary investigations are ongoing.

Previously, law enforcement conducted similar anti-corruption operations across Uzbekistan, targeting attempts to manipulate legal proceedings through bribery.