Electric grid officials in Tashkent arrested for bribery (video)

Two employees of a district electricity supply department in Tashkent have been detained on suspicion of demanding a $15,000 bribe in exchange for facilitating the installation and permit of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station. The information was reported by the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the capital.

According to the report, the suspects were caught red-handed during an undercover operation conducted in Chilanzar district by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Main Department of Internal Affairs’ operational search service. They were apprehended while receiving $10,000 from a citizen.

“I have three children. I have never been convicted before. A young man came to me asking for help to install an EV transformer station. I showed him the route to assist him. He brought $10,000, and at that moment, I was detained. I deeply regret my actions. I apologize to my president and my people,” said one of the detained individuals.

One of the suspects held the position of chief engineer at the district electricity supply department, while the other worked as an electrician in the same institution.

“I always advise my colleagues to work honestly and earn money through their own labor,” the second suspect added during questioning.

The collected case materials have been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for further legal assessment and action.

Authorities also recalled a recent case during the “Safe and Healthy Country” preventive operation in the Khorezm region, where an individual was detained for attempting to bribe an investigator to dismiss a criminal case. A criminal case was opened under Part 2 of Article 211 of the Criminal Code (bribery), and preliminary investigations are underway.