Uzbek Education Ministry Official Detained for Taking $100,000 Bribe

An official from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has been arrested in Tashkent while receiving a bribe of $100,000.

The suspect, a leading specialist in the department for licensing educational organizations, allegedly demanded the money from an administrator of a prestigious private university based in the city of Karshi. In exchange for the payment, he promised to expedite the issuance of a license for the university to open a new branch in the Surkhandarya region.

Security service operatives from the Kashkadarya region conducted an operation in Tashkent, detaining the official red-handed as he accepted the requested funds.

A criminal case has been initiated under Article 168 of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code concerning fraud. The court has ordered the suspect to be held in custody as a preventive measure while the investigation continues.