A court has sentenced four officials of Garden Catering Trade, which supplied meals to kindergartens in Fergana where 105 children were hospitalized with food poisoning in February, to house arrest or corrective labor, the press service of the courts of Ferghana province said Thursday.
The Furkat District Court for Criminal Cases announced the verdict on September 21. Details emerged in the media before the confirmation.
Company chief Shavkat Turdaliev received 3 years and 6 months of house arrest, and technologist Rasuljon Alimov 3 years. Both were released from custody in the courtroom. Former director Ikboljon Bozorov and chief accountant Akhliddin Sayfitdinov each received 3 years of corrective labor, with 20% of wages withheld.
The children, from eight kindergartens, fell ill on February 20 after eating dolma with meat. Tests found Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus in samples.
The court dropped a charge requiring intent, saying the defendants could not have known of bacteria that cannot be detected by appearance or taste. It found that sanitary violations are committed through negligence.
It also reclassified an electricity theft charge, setting damage at 35.2 million soums, or 105.8 million soums after a threefold multiplier.
The court noted that 1.11 billion soums in budget damage and 105.8 million soums owed to the energy company were fully repaid. Mitigating factors included the lack of prior convictions, repentance and the minor harm to the children’s health. No appeal has been filed.
Background
Garden Catering Trade was registered on June 21, 2024, a month before signing a contract with the provincial governor's office, and did not meet experience requirements. The Anti-Corruption Agency found procurement violations in July 2024 and demanded corrective steps. It said the hokimiyat gave only a formal reply.
