Two engineers of an electric power grid company operating in one of Tashkent’s districts were detained while receiving 8,000 US dollars. According to law enforcement, they demanded the money for “reducing” an assessed fine. The оперативные measures were carried out by officers of the Tashkent Region Directorate of the State Security Service together with representatives of the Department for Combating Economic Crimes.

It is reported that during an inspection of an electricity meter installed in the building of a branch of a commercial bank, specialists detected a violation: the device had been connected using an incorrect scheme, as a result of which electricity consumption was recorded incorrectly. On this basis, a fine of 400 million soums was calculated.

According to the investigation, the engineers then offered the head of the responsible LLC to reduce the взыскание amount to 65 million soums and demanded 8,000 dollars for this. The detention took place at the moment the money was handed over through a third party.

A criminal case has been opened, investigative actions are underway. Citizens are asked to report similar offenses via the short number 1520. Confidentiality of the caller’s identity is guaranteed.