Effest.uz editorial investigation team was approached by a family residing in the city of Urganch, Khorezm region. According to the mother of the victim, Sukhrob Allazarov, her son was initially called in for questioning as a witness, but was later turned into a suspect and taken into custody. At the conclusion of the trial, he was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month of imprisonment. His mother states that the events began in 2023. Because her son studied in China and knew the Chinese language, he acted as a translator for certain entrepreneurs in their communication with China.

"My son only worked as a translator"

Sukhrob was sent to study in China in 2014 using his family's budget funds; he studied at an institute in Urumqi for 7 years and returned as a Chinese language specialist. An entrepreneur in Urganch (a woman named Niyozjon) and her partner Jamol Otajonov used Sukhrob's language skills to import equipment, alternative energy devices, and bicycle spare parts from China, involving him as a translator and coordinator.

«We educated our son in China. Not from the state budget, but at the expense of our family funds. At a time when not many were interested in China yet, we had him learn the language, thinking it would be useful for Uzbekistan», — says the applicant.

How was a loan issued using the seal of a closed firm?

According to the case materials, large loans (380 thousand dollars and more) were allocated by the bank. When obtaining the loans, the entrepreneurs pledged their property as collateral. However, it was revealed that the seal of a liquidated (closed) firm and forged documents were used in issuing the loan.

The mother of Sukhrob Allazarov points to the firm's operations and the loans allocated by the bank as one of the most critical questions in the case.

«How is the bank transferring such a large sum of loans to China using the seal of this closed firm?» — the applicant questions.

During the trial and investigation, although expert conclusions proved that the seals and signatures on the documents did not belong to Sukhrob, charges were brought during the investigation based on doubts and assumptions that "Sukhrob might have signed them." Nevertheless, the Chinese investor/partner himself came to Uzbekistan and participated in the investigation as a witness, confirming that Sukhrob worked solely as a translator, and later participated in the court hearings online.

However, the investigator later placed this Chinese citizen on the wanted list for unknown reasons, further complicating the case. The applicant considers this situation incomprehensible and emphasizes that there was not enough evidence to prove her son's guilt. As a result, although Sukhrob was initially summoned to the investigation as a witness, he was suddenly charged under Article 168 (fraud) and imprisoned.

«First, they called my son as a witness. He went twice. The third time, they made him a suspect and immediately locked him up», — says his mother.

When property exists, why should the translator pay?

The most incomprehensible situation in this criminal case is the actions of the banks and the enforcement system. Although there is immovable property pledged by the entrepreneur as loan security, the bank has delayed putting these properties up for auction to close the debt.

Furthermore, the payment of the resulting damage exceeding 280 thousand dollars was placed as a joint liability by the court onto Sukhrob Allazarov — a translator who did not take out the loan and did not benefit from it.

If a single citizen studies abroad and gets imprisoned for 5 years and 1 month simply for working as a translation, there will be no benefit for the youth of Uzbekistan to study abroad in line with modern demands. The applicants and journalists are raising serious objections precisely around this issue.

«If he is imprisoned for five years and one month just for doing simple translation work... then why should the youth of Uzbekistan go and study abroad?» — she appeals.

Sukhrob Allazarov's family is awaiting justice from the appellate instance and is asking the leadership of the Presidential Administration, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the Supreme Court to take control of this ongoing trial in Urganch, as well as the irregularities in the investigation.

Our editorial office and public representatives, adhering to the head of state's call that courts should not break people's hopes, express hope that this criminal case will be objectively reviewed and justice will prevail.

Muhammad Ali Kozokov, Effect.uz