QURGHON TEPPA, February 15, Asia-Plus  -- Safar Aliyev, an official with the Panj agency for standardization, metrology, certification and trade inspection, has been arrested on suspicion of having taken bribe from local entrepreneurs.

The source at the Khatlon anticorruption directorate, told Asia-Plus on Friday that their officers caught Alliyev red-handed when he was taking 550 somonis in bribe from three Panj entrepreneurs for not imposing a fine of 2000 somonis on them. 

“The preliminary investigation has established that Aliyev threatened to impose a fine of 2000 somonis on three traders in golden wares for using uncertified scales,” said the source, “Instead of imposing fine on the traders caught using uncertified scales, Alliyev took 550 somonis in bribe from them.”    

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Safar Alliyev and an investigation is under way.