The court has begun hearings in a high-profile corruption case that rocked the public exactly one year ago. Three former employees of the Ministry of Health are accused of creating conditions for illegal medical activities. Among the defendants are Saida Rustamova, the former head of the Department of Human Resources, Science, and Education; Rugiyya Magerramova, the former chief specialist-senior inspector of the same department; and Letafet Jabbarova, the former head of the accreditation department of the Ministry’s Center for Public Health and Reforms. The case was opened and investigated by the Main Anti-Corruption Department under the Prosecutor General’s Office. As Oxu.Az reports, the corruption scheme operated in two directions.
Specifically, bribes were taken for the issuance of two types of certificates: 1. A certificate allowing students who studied abroad to practice in the country; 2. A certificate issued to medical workers based on the results of a five-year certification exam.
According to established regulations, to obtain a permit to practice medicine, a citizen must apply to a commission established by the Ministry of Health. A positive decision is issued if all requirements are met. Those who failed to obtain a certificate were not allowed to participate in the five-year certification process. The chairman of this commission was Deputy Minister of Health Ilgar Gasimov.
Saida Rustamova is the central figure in this criminal case. According to the indictment, she issued permits for illegal medical practice, primarily in exchange for bribes. She received a total of 266,500 manat in bribes, directly or through intermediaries, as well as 33,000 manat through influence peddling. Furthermore, she laundered a total of 280,000 manat of criminally obtained proceeds.
The investigation documents list the names of the doctors who bribed Saida Rustamova. The list includes 18 medical workers.
The criminal case is currently being heard in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Mahira Kerimova. Saida Rustamova and the other defendants are under house arrest. If found guilty, they face imprisonment of more than 10 years.
This post is also available in: Russian