In Uzbekistan, officials stole money from the Fund to assist the poor

$15 000 from charity organizations were stolen by the accountant of the regional fund “Mahalla” and the deputy head of Akkurgan district of Tashkent region on issues of supporting makhalla and family.

It was money of the funds “Mahalla” and “Sahovat wa kumak” [“Kindness and Support”], intended to help families in need. According to the investigation that began, the money was spent on the officials’ own needs.

The press service of the General Prosecutor’s office said that the Department for Combating Economic Crimes has opened a criminal case. Swindlers, who misappropriated money for the low-income, are charged under paragraph (a) of part 3 of article 167 (embezzlement by misappropriation or embezzlement, committed on an especially large scale) of the Criminal Code.

In April, the President Mirziyoev, announcing the creation of Sahovat wa kumak, said “about those who are steadfast in today’s difficult conditions, about people who are supporting compatriots in need …”.

ACCA previously wrote about corruption in the distribution of humanitarian aid. The chairman of makhalla was arrested for 15 days because of the fraud with flour for low-income families in Samarkand region. The District Administrative court of Urgut found the official guilty of carrying out illegal business activities and counteracting law enforcement officials. He was fined $110.

To create a system of assistance to the population, the Ministry has created sponsorship coordination centers in the country’s regions. They have established control that virtually eliminates corruption; it appears after the products get into makhallas. Hundreds of supposedly non-governmental organizations removed themselves in reality from civilian control, thereby confirming their incapacity.