“It Was Needed for the Office”: Head of Jomboy District Ecology Department Sentenced for Accepting a Monoblock Computer as a Bribe

The head of the Ecology Department in Jomboy District, Samarkand Region, was caught red-handed while accepting a monoblock computer as a bribe. In exchange, he had promised not to take action over the illegal felling of trees, to reduce the amount of environmental damage assessed, and to help secure the release of a truck from an impound lot.

Photo: Department under the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The former head of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection of Jomboy District has been held criminally liable. Kun.uz reviewed the court documents.

According to the court’s ruling, J.R., 39, demanded a monoblock computer worth 11 million soums in exchange for taking no action over the felling of approximately 100 poplar trees in the Zarafshan mahalla, reducing the amount of damage caused to the environment, and assisting in the release of a vehicle from an impound lot.

On 26 June, he was detained during an оперативе operation while receiving the monoblock computer as a bribe in his office.

During the trial, J.R. admitted his guilt and stated that he had requested the computer because it was needed for the department’s work.

“On 24 June 2026, while returning home, I saw several people I did not know cutting down poplar trees on Gallakapa Street in Jomboy District. I approached them and took the documents from the owner of the truck. I then had the truck placed in an impound lot and drew up an official report regarding the tree felling.

“On 25 June, a resident of Jomboy District came to see me and said that the people who had cut down the trees were his acquaintances. He asked me to help get the truck released from the impound lot and offered me 300 US dollars. I told him that I did not need money, but that our office needed a computer, so he should purchase a monoblock computer for the department. After that, I would help him get the truck released from the impound lot. However, I did not promise to reduce the fine,” the defendant stated in court.

By a ruling of the Jomboy District Criminal Court, J.R. was found guilty of committing an offence under Part 1 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (acceptance of a bribe).

He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and disqualified for two years from holding positions involving managerial and financial liability functions in organisations with state participation.