Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  Deputy Mayor of Chirchik, a city in Tashkent region, has been arrested on suspicion of corruption, according to the press service of Uzbekistan’s State Security Service (SSS).

The operation to arrest the official was carried out jointly with the Department for Combating Corruption Crimes under the Prosecutor General’s Office.

According to reports, the official, using his position, demanded US$2 million in exchange for helping secure 20 hectares of land from the mayor’s reserve through an auction for a 49-year lease.

The condition for the deal was an investment of US$40 million to create a cluster-type trading complex.

The deputy mayor was arrested after receiving a partial payment of US$1 million through his driver.

A criminal case has been initiated against him under paragraph "a" of Part 3 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code, which provides for a sentence of 10 to 15 years in prison for accepting a bribe of particularly large amounts. An investigation is currently underway.