False promises and a 2 billion deal
An entrepreneur from Andijan appealed to Effect.uz, stating that a woman named Qambarxon Sidiqova, born in 1965, embezzled more than 2 billion soums through fraud.
The incident began in May 2024. The applicant trusted the woman's business proposals and her intention to sell her properties in Markhamat district (a gas station, a cold storage, a two-story beauty salon, and a 9-hectare land plot). It was agreed to purchase these properties for 2 billion soums, and in the presence of witnesses and on video camera, the relevant funds were handed over, and explanatory letters were written by the woman.
"We handed over the 2 billion soums in the presence of witnesses, with her and my consent. These processes were recorded on video, and operations were also carried out through the Markhamat district branch of Xalq Bank. However, after taking the money, the woman delayed transferring the properties, which were under credit, to our name, and eventually disappeared in an unknown direction," says the victim.
“The regional governor supports me” — a masterly method of gaining trust
The entrepreneur added that Qambarxon Sidiqova used various tricks to gain people's trust and make herself look like she had "strong backing."
She told people around her and the victims that the regional governor (Shuhratbek Qoshaqboyevich) personally supported her.
The entrepreneur noted that she would walk around telling everyone, "The regional governor 'supports' me, he backs me." To gain people's trust, she would hold her phone to her ear and falsely speak: "Assalomu alaykum, Shuhratbek Qoshaqboyevich..." When conflicts started, one day we took the phone from her hand while she was pretending to talk like that, and it turned out she wasn't actually talking to anyone and had been deceiving everyone all along, he says.
Subsequent inquiries showed that the regional governor has no relation whatsoever to such illegal actions and never supports such situations.
Unjustifiably closed investigations and threats
The suspect woman has previously been held accountable or investigated several times under Article 168 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code. In addition, she reportedly has yet to pay for 260 million soums worth of iron products delivered under the project for turning neighborhoods into vineyards.
Despite this, the inquiries conducted by the Markhamat district internal affairs department were one-sided, and the case was terminated under Article 83, Clause 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code (lack of corpus delicti).
"I handed over video evidence, bank receipts, and a list of witnesses to the Internal Affairs investigator. However, a face-to-face confrontation was never conducted. Soon after, the woman's daughter called me, claiming she knew about the investigation secrets and hurled insults and threats. The investigation process is not being conducted transparently. I believe the case was reviewed one-sidedly," says the victim.
The fate of 15 families and an 85-year-old father is at risk
It turned out that the entrepreneur obtained these funds through a bank loan and is currently paying a 28% interest markup to the bank. Due to the debt, the bank has filed a lawsuit to confiscate the properties registered under the entrepreneur and his 85-year-old father.
This business entity provided permanent employment to 15 citizens, and it was planned to create another 50 new jobs in the future. Due to the financial fraud that has occurred, the enterprise is on the verge of bankruptcy and closure.
"Right now, we are providing for the livelihoods of 15 families. It has become difficult to pay our loans, and the bank is warning about filing a lawsuit," he says with grief.
Expectations of justice from higher authorities
Regarding the injustice that has occurred, the entrepreneur is asking the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General, and the Governor of Andijan Region to put an end to the negligence of officials and restore justice:
"At a time when our President is supporting entrepreneurs, we are on the verge of losing our 20 years of labor. We ask the Prosecutor General and the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs – Head of the Investigative Department to take this case under their personal control, ensure transparency in the inquiry and investigation processes, and take legal measures against the individuals involved in the crime," says the entrepreneur.
The editorial office will follow the development of these events and await official responses from law enforcement agencies and the regional khokimiyat.
Prepared by Muhammad Ali Qozoqov.
