Surkhandarya woman sentenced to three and a half years for attempting to sell her 11-year-old son
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A woman from Surkhandarya province has received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for attempting to sell her 11-year-old son.
The mother, facing severe financial hardship, tried to sell her son for 40 million soums (approximately $3,150). A court in Uzbekistan's southernmost Surkhandarya province sentenced her to three years and six months in prison.
The court's decision, based on Article 57 of the Criminal Code, resulted in a sentence considerably lower than the typical statutory minimum for human trafficking involving minors. Article 135, clause 3(b), usually mandates a prison term of 10 to 15 years for trafficking a minor.
This conviction stems from a sting operation conducted by law enforcement on April 4, 2026, near the Youth Center in Termez. Investigators reported that the defendant had arranged with an acquaintance to transfer her son, born in 2014. They agreed on an initial payment of 20 million soums, with the remainder to be paid after the fraudulent transfer of legal guardianship.
The potential buyer, recognizing the unlawful nature of the deal, informed the authorities. Detectives marked the cash with chemical tracking agents and observed the exchange closely. The mother was apprehended immediately after accepting the first payment and handing the child over to the informant.
During the trial, the defendant testified, "Before leaving for the meeting, I told my son, 'My boy, I am giving you up for adoption so that you can have a better life.'" She attributed her decision to homelessness, a failed marriage, and substantial debt, stating her desire for her child to escape the poverty she couldn't overcome.
Following the verdict, the court directed local social services and municipal authorities to promptly oversee the boy's placement and legal guardianship.
This case underscores persistent problems with illegal child sales fueled by socioeconomic pressures throughout the country. In a separate recent case in Fergana province, a married couple received a five-year prison sentence for attempting to sell their newborn infant.