Woman who tried to sell her 11-year-old son for 40 million soums punished

A court verdict has been handed down against a woman in Surkhandarya region who tried to sell her 11-year-old son for 40 million soums due to financial difficulties. Under the court’s ruling, she was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison. «Daryo» reported this, citing court documents.

According to court materials, the defendant had reached a preliminary agreement with a woman she knew to hand over her son, born in 2014, in exchange for 40 million soums. The parties agreed that 20 million soums would be paid upfront, with the remainder to be handed over after the child was officially registered in the buyer’s name.

According to the documents, on 4 April 2026, law enforcement officers conducted an operation near the Youth Center in Termez. The woman brought her son, born in 2014, to the meeting. The woman acting as the buyer handed over the previously agreed 20 million soums. As soon as the defendant accepted the money, she was detained by law enforcement officers along with the material evidence.

At the court hearing, the woman said she regretted what she had done. She said that before leaving for the meeting, she had told her son: «My son, I am giving you up for adoption so that you can live well». The defendant stated that she had committed the crime because of financial difficulties, numerous debts, the lack of permanent housing, and the breakdown of her family. She said she had hoped her child would find in another family the conditions she was unable to provide.

Court materials also state that the woman who was supposed to receive the child realized that the proposal was illegal and contacted law enforcement authorities. After that, law enforcement agencies planned an operation, specially treated the cash with a chemical substance, and conducted the meeting under full surveillance.

The court found the defendant guilty of trafficking in persons under Article 135, Part 3, Clause «b» of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. At the same time, Article 57 of the Criminal Code was applied, and she was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison.

In addition, under the court’s ruling, the issue of determining the child’s future guardianship was assigned to the relevant state authorities.

For reference, under Article 135 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, trafficking in persons is punishable by restriction of liberty or imprisonment for a term of 3 to 5 years. If the crime is committed against a minor or under other aggravating circumstances, the offender may be sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.