The head of Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) Sirojiddin Ikromi told reporters in Dushanbe on February 9 that an internal audit has revealed shortfall of funds in the accounts and provided the information about account shortfalls to the Accounts Chamber and the Prosecutor-General’s Office, according to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi.
Amonatbonk head did not specify the size of the bank's financial losses, but added that those amounts do not even make up one percent of the bank's assets.
He further added that Amonatbonk’s assets have amounted to 4.9 billion somonis as of December 31, 2020.
Ikromi noted that methods of embezzlement of funds have not yet been determined. Meanwhile, the Accounts Chamber has already stated that money was withdrawn from customers’ accounts without their permission.
Recall, Qarakhon Chillazoda, the head of the Accounts Chamber of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on February 4 that told reporters in Dushanbe on February 4 inspections conducted by the Accounts Chamber in branch No 5 of Amonatbonk in 2018-2019 and the first half of 2020 have revealed 41.1 million somonis worth of damage.
“About 23.6 million somonis have been reimbursed and the rest will be reimbursed due to the sale of the sequestered property of the bank,” the Accounts Chamber head noted.
He added that the head of the branch as well as chief accountant and cashier of it had been detained and an investigation is under way.
Amonatbonk is the only state-owned bank. Established in 1925, it is one of the oldest banks in Tajikistan and one of the largest based upon various criteria – including the number of branches and the number of served clients. The institution is unique in its orientation towards implementing social, pension and other state programs. Amonatbonk has 5 regional centers, 69 branches and more than 500 agencies. This gives the institution a presence in the most remote mountainous parts of the country.
