Case of bribes for illegal admission to medical activities sent to court

A criminal case against officials accused of receiving bribes for creating conditions for illegal medical activities has been sent to court, Report informs citing the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

It is reported that the preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated as a result of operational and investigative measures carried out by the Main Directorate for Combating Corruption on the fact of illegal actions of officials of the Ministry of Health has been completed.

During the investigation, reasonable suspicions were established that Saida Rustamova, who held the position of head of the Department of Personnel, Science and Education of the Ministry of Health, acting in collusion with Rukhiya Magerramova, chief specialist – senior inspector of the same department, as well as Latafet Jabbarova, former head of the accreditation department of the Center for Public Health and Reforms and other members of the corruption network, systematically received bribes from many people, providing illegal services for a fee. In particular, they were involved in changing the medical specialization of doctors, providing access to certification exams that give the right to engage in medical or pharmaceutical activities (including in the field of plastic surgery), issuing fake certificates with falsified positive assessments, and illegally influencing the decisions of other officials.

Facts of legalization of criminally obtained funds by Saida Rustamova through the acquisition of real estate have also been established.

Based on the collected evidence, Saida Rustamova was charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code: 193-1.3.2 (money laundering on a large scale), 308.2 (abuse of office resulting in grave consequences), 311.3.1, 311.3.2, 311.3.3 (receiving a bribe on a large scale by a group of persons by prior agreement, repeatedly), 312-1.1 (illegal influence on the decision of an official – trading in influence), 313 (official forgery).

Rukhiya Magerramova and Latafet Jabbarova were charged with aiding and abetting under similar articles.

By decision of the Binagadi District Court, house arrest and removal from office were chosen as preventive measures for these persons.

The criminal case was sent to the Baku Court of Grave Crimes for consideration. The preliminary investigation into other persons involved is ongoing.

This post is also available in: Russian