The State Security Service operatives conducted operational-search activities in the direction of combating economic crimes, resulting in the exposure of an organized criminal group consisting of 17 tax authority employees, 1 customs authority employee, 1 bank employee, 1 first deputy of a district governor, and 18 responsible persons from business entities.
It was discovered that, from 2020 to 2023, this group established 8 fake companies and, through fictitious exports of furniture products, fraudulently reclaimed the assigned 15 percent value-added tax (VAT) refund amount, ultimately embezzling a total of 24 billion 580 million som from the state budget.
A former tax authority employee coordinated the criminal group's activities, and companies unofficially led by this individual were registered in Yangiqo’rg’on district of Namangan region. However, their legal addresses were changed frequently and unjustifiably, including the names of individuals unrelated to their official leadership. Furthermore, although these companies were ostensibly established to manufacture furniture, in reality, they conducted no such production.
Moreover, financial statements falsely showed that the finished products were exported to the Kyrgyz Republic.
However, investigations revealed that the export operations did not take place, the companies' seals were forged by the organized group, the export contracts were artificially created, and the VAT refunds from the state budget were illegally reclaimed as mentioned above.
A criminal case was initiated under Articles 167, 179, 184, 209, and 228 of the Criminal Code, and investigative actions were carried out.
During the investigation, 6 billion 808 million som were recovered to the state account. In addition, property worth 6 billion 300 million som, including 1 multi-storied private medical clinic building, 1 car wash station, 2 residences, 6 automobiles, as well as phones and computer equipment were seized to cover the incurred damages.
The Mirzo Ulugbek district court sentenced 14 of the 38 defendants to imprisonment ranging from 5 years 6 months to 7 years 6 months.
Furthermore, 18 individuals were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, with a probation period of 3 years applied under Article 72 of the Criminal Code, including the obligation to compensate the material damage within 2 years.
In addition, 6 individuals were sentenced to a restriction of freedom for no less than 2 years.
