Tajikistan's Central Bank has published an independent audit revealing that its former chairman diverted huge sums of public funds to a company run by his family, AP reported.
The Ernst & Young audit released Monday says that under Murodali Alimardonov's stewardship, the Central Bank gave his Center-Invest company more than $850 million.
According to the audit, a further $221.5 million allocated for investment in the cotton industry in 2004-2007 remains unaccounted-for.
Gross financial irregularities are common in the former Soviet nation. The International Monetary Fund last year demanded repayment of $47 million in loans amid charges that Tajik authorities doctored data on national reserves.
However, the sums of money allegedly appropriated by Alimardonov, who has served as deputy prime minister since last year, are enormous for the impoverished Central Asian economy.
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