The SCNS announced that it had uncovered a scheme to extort money from business owners in Tokmok

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan reported the discovery of a corruption scheme involving the systematic extortion of money from business owners in Tokmok.

According to the security service, a private attorney with the initials T.D.V., born in 1989, together with unidentified individuals, pressured businesspeople involved in the construction of buildings and facilities in the city.

According to the State Committee, the entrepreneurs were threatened with inspections by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor’s Office, the State Committee for National Security, environmental agencies, the mayor’s office, and other government bodies. Additionally, the suspects allegedly threatened to spread false information on social media.

The agency stated that the scheme operated on a systematic basis, and large sums of money were extorted from the entrepreneurs.

On May 15, as part of a criminal case initiated under Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (“Extortion”), the suspect was caught red-handed while receiving $15,000. Following investigative operations, the detainee was placed in the State Committee for National Security’s temporary detention facility.