Coca-Cola Uzbek managers arrested for fraud

TASHKENT, Jan 23 (AFP): Two top managers from Coca-Cola's Uzbek joint venture have been arrested and face fraud charges, a source in Tashkent city prosecutor's office told AFP on Thursday.

"Two top managers of the company were arrested in late December last year and charged with trade violations and forgery," the source, who wished not to be named, told AFP.

Coca-Cola opened a joint venture called Coca-Cola Ichimligi Uzbekiston Ltd in Uzbekistan in 1993. Currently the American soft drinks maker holds a 42.9 per cent share, while a 57.1 per cent controlling stake belongs to a company called Muzimpex.