Former customs inspector cleared of bribery charges in Fergana after 15 years

The inspector, who served at the Fergana customs post under the Fergana regional customs administration, was arrested as a preventive measure after being accused of accepting bribes together with colleagues. The allegations related to the illegal import of agricultural products from Kyrgyzstan into Uzbekistan.

According to the case materials, the inspector and several co-workers were accused of taking bribes between April 2009 and January 2010 in exchange for allowing trucks carrying potatoes and apples to cross the border without customs clearance or inspection.

As a result, on 5 November 2010, the Fergana Regional Criminal Court sentenced the inspector to four years in prison and banned him from working in customs bodies for three years.

The former official later filed a cassation appeal with the Fergana Regional Court, presenting evidence to support his claim of innocence. Court records established that he began working at the Fergana customs post on 1 June 2009, meaning he could not have been involved in the alleged offences during April and May 2009, as stated in the original charges.

After reviewing the case, the Fergana Regional Court annulled the 2010 verdict and acquitted the former inspector, fully exonerating him of the charges.

The ruling brings an end to a case that highlights the consequences of wrongful conviction and underscores the importance of thorough judicial review in criminal proceedings.