Asia-Plus: Дуздии пули хуроку либоси сарбозон 9 зиндонӣ 60 ҷарима

The article, dated 9 August 2025, reports that in a case concerning the theft of millions of somoni in funds for soldiers’ food and clothing from the Ministry of Defence budget, 9 persons were sentenced to prison terms and more than 60 others were fined. At a 7 August press briefing, the Supreme Court announced that criminal cases had been opened against 71 individuals: 43 military personnel and 28 civilians, including heads of supplier companies. The article reports that Saidali Rahmonzoda, deputy chairman of the Supreme Court and head of the military collegium, stated that the verdict was issued on 18 March 2025, under which 9 persons received prison terms of 5 to 15 years and 62 others were fined. Two of the imprisoned were named: Khukmiddinzoda Khayriddin, sentenced to 5 years, and Samaralizoda Rahmonali, sentenced to 15 years. The article reports that the total damage amounted to more than 124,857,000 somoni, of which over 108 million somoni has been repaid to the state budget while more than 16 million somoni remains unrecovered. The article states that, according to the Supreme Court, the theft deprived thousands of soldiers of food, uniform and military equipment. Supreme Court chairman Rustam Mirzozoda explained that, under Article 49 of the Criminal Code, full repayment of damage before sentencing allows imposition of a fine or other non-custodial penalty, which was applied to most defendants. The article recounts earlier Anti-Corruption Agency reports: in August 2024 a case was opened against 52 Ministry of Defence employees over 123.1 million somoni in losses; by February 2025 the case expanded to 78 state employees and 122.7 million somoni. The article reports that earlier figures included 43 Ministry of Defence staff, 3 State Committee for National Security officers, 2 Ministry of Finance employees, and 30 from other bodies.