Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 27
By Huseyn Hasanov– Trend:
Mammetkhan Chakyev, director of the State Service for Combating Economic Crimes of Turkmenistan, delivered a report at an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported Jan. 27.
In order to conduct an uncompromising struggle against corruption and bribery, as well as to prevent illegal actions of some civil servants, systematic checks are carried out jointly with law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan, the report said.
In particular, it was established that Nursakhed Sapardurdyev, who worked earlier as Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources (was dismissed from this post in December 2017), using official powers for mercenary purposes, damaged the legitimate interests of the heads of subordinated facilities, foreign companies and entrepreneurs by taking bribes from them in especially large amounts.
“He illegally purchased apartments in luxury houses, cars of various brands and golden jewelry for the money obtained by criminal means,” said the report. “All his property was arrested.”
As part of the report, information was also provided on the inspection of the activity of the State Food Industry Association of Turkmenistan. In particular, it was revealed that a number of chiefs of the Dashoguz enterprise for the production of vegetable oil stole 1,500 tons of refined cottonseed oil. Criminal cases were initiated in this regard, and the damage inflicted to the state was fully reimbursed.
Information was also provided about the violations revealed during inspection at the Arkachgurlushyk Production Association of the Ashgabat administration, where theft of construction materials was carried out.
“It was also revealed that in different periods of time, salaries were accrued for 243 citizens who actually didn’t work anywhere, and as a result, the Turkmen state suffered damage on a particularly large scale,” the report noted.
In this regard, criminal cases were instituted, and the damage inflicted to the state was reimbursed.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov after hearing the report reminded that civil servants will be punished for corruption and bribery in the strictest manner.
“If necessary, we will tighten penalties for such crimes,” the president said, adding that the powers of the State Service for Combating Economic Crimes may be further expanded and its staff increased.