Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Muzaffar Saliev, who served as the Minister of Housing and Communal Services of Uzbekistan from 2017 to 2021, has been sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Following his release, Saliev will be prohibited from holding positions involving financial responsibility for a period of 3 years.

According to case materials, Saliev and several other individuals were accused of multiple episodes of embezzlement of budget funds.

The court found him guilty under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan: points "a" and "b" of part 3 of Article 167 (embezzlement or misappropriation committed on a large scale by an organized group or in its interests) and points "a" and "b" of part 2 of Article 209 (official forgery committed repeatedly or by a dangerous recidivist in the interests of an organized group).

The court ordered the defendants to pay more than 63 billion soums in restitution to the state. To compensate for the damages, vehicles, two apartments, a private house registered under the former minister’s name, and US$14,600 will be seized.

The verdict was handed down by the Shaykhontohur District Criminal Court of Tashkent and was upheld by the appellate court.