Authorities in Karakalpakstan have opened a criminal case against officials at Khududgaz Karakalpakstan, a territorial gas supply company, the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General's Office announced.
According to the department, company officials had been recording the discrepancy between the volume of natural gas received and the volume delivered to consumers simply as routine losses, without investigating what was actually causing the shortfall.
Investigators estimate that this practice caused damage to state and public interests totaling 251.5 billion soums, or nearly $21.1 million.
A criminal case has been opened under Articles 167 (Embezzlement through misappropriation) and 205 (Abuse of power or official authority) of the Criminal Code. The investigation is ongoing.
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