Hauliers fined in Soviet areas
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• British officials in the former Soviet Union republic of Kazakhstan want to hear from hauliers who have been forced to pay illegal roadside fines to police.
It is believed that at least 30 British drivers have been charged the $700 (466) fine: one owner-driver was arrested at gun-point after he refused to pay a second time round.
Ken Ward of Cressing Trailer Services based at Braintree, Essex was arrested by police when he was stopped near the Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan border for nil. having a travel permit.
Ward, who was transporting heavy construction equipment for use in a gold mine, says: "I was stopped at the border and told I needed a permit to go from one country to another. They told me where to get one and as I was driving there I was stopped by police and ordered to pay the S700 back-hander.
"I paid it first time," he says, "but when it happened a second time I refused and they pointed a gun at me and arrested me. I ended up having to pay it to get my truck back."
This extortion comes just weeks after hauliers going to Russia were refused entry unless they paid custom duties on goods in advance (CM 13-19 June).
Graham Loten of the British embassy in Kazakhstan says: "We have heard from hauliers that this kind of thing is happening but we need firm evidence so that we can take it up with the Kazakhstan authorities."
fl Hauliers who have experienced similar problems should send a written account of what happened to Graham Loten do FC0 (Alma-Ata), King Charles Street, London SW1 A2AH.
All information will be passed on to Loten in Kazakhstan.