DUSHANBE, January 16, Asia-Plus  -- 700 inspections conducted by officers from the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption in 2007 revealed crimes that caused 130.5 million somonis (equivalent to some $37.3 million) worth of damage to the country’s economy, press service of the anticorruption agency said.

Damage caused by misappropriation of state funds amounted to some 35 million somonis and damage caused by tax evasion amounted to 24.2 million somonis.

Among the most incorrigible tax-dodgers are ten private companies, which paid taxes 1 to 3 million somonis less than required each, the press service said. 

Besides, the anticorruption officers last year revealed 464 corruption-related crimes, including 77 economic crimes and 99 cases of bribery.  Damage caused by these crimes amounted to 154.7 million somonis.  

Criminal proceedings were instituted against 127 people, including civil servants, representatives from judicial bodies, officers of the law enforcement and power-wielding structures.