According to a press release from the anti-corruption agency of Tajikistan, the limited company Mavlono Rumi paid 152,000 somoni (US$16,000) for electricity twice - once in October 2018 and again in December 2018. The payment was made directly to Mirakov, who provided Mavlono Runi with a fake additional receipt and pocketed the second payment.
Of the 152,000 somoni ($16,000) found in his possession, 5,915 somoni ($624) were transferred to his bank account, and the remaining 146,085 somoni ($10,360) were appropriated by another Rudaki District’s Energy Network official.
Embezzlement in Barki Tojik, the nationalized energy agency, is nothing new. In 2014 the State Financial Control Agency and the Fight Against Corruption in Tajikistan found that officials artificially inflated energy costs for consumers.
Upon further investigation, the anti-corruption agency found that actual energy costs were a fifth of what was reported by the network, and accused officials of embezzling the remaining funds.
If proven guilty, Saidjamol Mirakov will face either 12 years in prison or a fine of 1,200,000 somoni ($105,681).
