Merey Omonboeva was released from punishment by a court verdict

On October 2, the Navbahor District Court of Navoi region issued its final verdict in the criminal case against Merey Omonboeva, head of the Navoi region department of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. QALAMPIR.UZ reviewed the court verdict.

According to the verdict, Omonboeva served as an assistant mayor in the Zarafshan neighborhood of Navoi city from June 2022 to November 2023. Exploiting her official position, she reportedly told a local businessman that she had a close relationship with Navoi city mayor Dilmurod Ergashev and promised to introduce him to the mayor. Allegedly, Omonboeva planned to request a loan from the businessman on behalf of the mayor.

The court noted that between October 28, 2022, and September 5, 2023, Omonboeva received a loan of 80 million sums from M.R., the head of two LLCs, “S.9” and “B.I.B.T.F.” She allegedly aimed to avoid repaying the loan and obtain additional funds by assuring the businessman that her relationship with the mayor was influential. In October-November 2023, during a business trip to China, she claimed the mayor had requested financial assistance and secured $50,000 from other entrepreneurs in Navoi. She presented falsified Telegram messages to the businessman as proof.

Omonboeva allegedly convinced Rahmatov, the businessman, that the mayor needed a loan and persuaded him to personally deliver the funds. Between October 1 and November 18, 2023, she managed to obtain a total of 338 million sums, comprising 56 million sums and $23,000, supposedly for the mayor.

During her court appearance, Omonboeva denied wrongdoing, asserting that the mayor had directly asked her for funds. She claimed the businessman later demanded repayment of the loan, and in response, she stated she would disclose the whereabouts of the money, though she received no further communication from the mayor, Ergashev.

"I received a loan of 185 million sums from brother Mehroj for mayor Ergashev. I didn’t ask Ergashev about the purpose of this amount. Additionally, Rahmatov provided me with 80 million sums to train his employees in fields like electrical work and mechanics, but he never sent the employees for training," she said.

Omonboeva, questioned as an additional suspect with her defense attorney present, ultimately confessed to her guilt.

Victim M.R. testified that in December 2023, Omonboeva requested another loan. To verify her claims, Rahmatov met with the mayor, using a gas issue at his preschool as a pretext. During their conversation, he mentioned, "I will give Mary the money you asked for this evening." The mayor, appearing confused, asked about the money. Rahmatov then revealed he had loaned 56 million sums and $23,000 to the mayor via Omonboeva. The mayor expressed surprise and denied ever asking for money from her.

In court, M.R. claimed that Omonboeva caused him losses totaling 136 million sums and $23,000 and requested restitution.

Navoi Mayor Dilmurod Ergashev testified as a witness, stating he had never requested money from Omonboeva or M.R., nor received any funds from them. He added that someone had created a fake Telegram account in his name.

In its verdict, the court found Merey Omonboeva guilty of fraud under Article 168, Part 4, Clause "a" of the Criminal Code (extreme fraud). However, considering her gender, lack of prior convictions, involvement in socially beneficial work, and her receipt of honors like the "Pride of the Neighborhood" badge and the "Zulfiya" state award, and noting that damages were compensated, the court decided to release her from punishment under Article 70 of the Criminal Code.