Ex-khokim of Yunusabad, accused of receiving $400,000 in bribe, says he was framed

In September 2018, the former governor of the Yunusabad district of Tashkent city Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov was arrested for allegedly receiving $400,000 in bribe with a promise to allot land plot for an investor.

During the past period, the investigation has been completed and trials have begun. The criminal case was chaired by the Tashkent city court judge Zafar Nurmatov.

It should be noted that the defendant B. Abdusamatov has been charged under Articles 205 (“Abuse of power or authority”) and 210 (“Taking a bribe”) of the Criminal Code.
 
On May 1, the trial was continued at the Tashkent city court on criminal proceedings. During the trial, the prosecutor Sardor Akhmedov asked the court to remove the guilt of Article 210 (“Taking a bribe”) of the Criminal Code against Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov. However, he requested that the culprit should be prosecuted in accordance with Article 205 (“Abuse of power or authority”).

Timur Rakhmatullayev, Abdusamatov’s lawyer, said that his defendant was absolutely innocent as there were no signs of crime in relation to the relevant articles of the Criminal Code.

According to him, the investigating bodies did not comply with relevant legislation when collecting evidences on the case. At that time, Abdusamatov was a member of the district council of people's deputies. However, on September 6, 2018, unidentified “operative officers” violated Article 233 (immune right) of the Criminal Procedural Code by filing a criminal case and handed over to the relevant department of the State Security Service for investigation.

The lawyer also stated that his defendant was unreasonably blamed in the media for taking $400,000 in bribe to provide an investor with land. This is wrong and false information.

“It was found out that in the course of the investigation, the preliminary investigating body artificially collected incorrect evidence after the arrest of Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov. At the same time, after his detention, it was identified that arrest, detention and other procedural norms have been violated. When Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov was kept in custody, “unknown security officers” acquainted him with suspicious information about his receipt of large amount of bribes from entrepreneurs in the district. The staff said that Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov would bring $600,000 in cash, and then he would be recorded on video that he was apologetic and the video clip could be presented to the relevant authorities and he may continue his governance. After that, the defendant contacted for financial help from his close relatives and acquaintances. Several houses and cars were pledged and $400,000 was collected on September 7-10. This sum of money was brought to the appropriate department of the State Security Service.

After delivering a sum of $400,000, he was not released, he was sent to the investigating detention center of the security service. The testimony has been changed several times during investigations. It was not proved that Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov received a bribe in the amount of $400,000. It is also a clear example of the fact that defamatory information was artificially disseminated in the media,” the lawyer said.

Reportedly, Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov was arrested on September 6 at around 19:00. And four days later, on September 10, at a proposal of the city prosecutor's office, he was deprived of his deputy's immunity right.

Besides, the lawyer asked the court to return the $400,000 bail to his family and lift the car bans. According to the relevant procedural articles, his dismissal was illegal.

“I thank the prosecutor's office, a petition was passed to the court asking to remove the bribery offense from me. I am blamed for the abuse of power or authority, in fact these funds were spent on buying construction materials for low-income families, asphalting “Billur” Mahalla and other good deeds. Confectionery products were distributed to children from low-income families on the occasion of the New Year. I ask the court to make a fair decision taking into account all the facts,” Bakhtiyor Abdusamatov said.

The next court hearing will be held on May 6.