Man sentenced for negligence leading to young boy’s death in Tashkent well incident

A tragic incident in Tashkent resulted in the death of a 6-year-old boy after he fell into an unsecured well. A court has issued a sentence against the individual deemed responsible for the event. QALAMPIR.UZ reviewed the court documents to provide details.  

On July 9, 2024, in Tashkent’s Uchtepa district, a 6-year-old boy went missing after leaving home to visit a store. Despite search efforts, the boy’s body was discovered the next morning in a water-filled manhole.  

Investigations revealed that the manhole had been left uncovered by a service company tasked with repairing a burst hot water pipe. No safety barriers or warning signs had been installed around the site, leading to the fatal accident.  

A forensic medical examination concluded that the boy’s death was caused by mechanical asphyxiation due to blockage of the respiratory tract by liquid. Additionally, the child suffered thermal burns (I-II degree) covering 100% of his body from exposure to hot liquid.  

A criminal case was initiated under Article 257 of the Criminal Code (Violation of labor protection rules). On October 15, 2024, the Sergeli District Criminal Court heard the case against 32-year-old U.A., an installer at the Kommunalchi Tessit Kuvatta'mir company.  

Court documents indicated that U.A. was responsible for ensuring compliance with safety protocols at construction sites, including erecting protective barriers to prevent unauthorized access. However, due to negligence in fulfilling these duties, the boy fell into the open manhole and died.  

U.A. was found guilty under Article 258, Part 2, Subparagraph “a” of the Criminal Code (causing death due to violation of safety regulations in construction). The court sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months of correctional labor, with a 15% deduction from his salary to be paid as state income. Additionally, he was barred from holding official or materially responsible positions for one term.  

The defendant appealed the verdict to the cassation instance of the Tashkent City Court for criminal cases. On January 14, 2025, the appeal was reviewed.  

In his defense, the man claimed that law enforcement had failed to conduct a thorough investigation. He stated that he began working for the company on July 11 or 12, 2024, after the incident occurred, based on an oral agreement. He further alleged that the company manager had promised to handle any fines or administrative responsibilities stemming from the incident in exchange for his compliance. 

However, witness testimonies, official documents confirming the defendant’s responsibility for labor safety, and other evidence contradicted his claims. The court upheld the original sentence, leaving the verdict unchanged.