New details in the corruption case at the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan

In the Baku Military Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Fikret Aliyev, another hearing was held on the criminal case against the former head of the financial service of the N-th military unit of the Ministry of Defense, Captain Vahid Novruzlu, accused of embezzling more than one million manats.

As Oxu.Az reports, Sultan Sultanly appeared as a witness at the trial, who stated that the accused is his brother-in-law.

"He said that his brother should send money from Germany. I am also a serviceman and do not want money to be transferred to my card. Therefore, I sent him my bank details. I withdrew the money and gave it to him when I came to Beylagan. I did not get anything from this amount," the witness reported.

Answering the questions of the state prosecutor, the witness explained that money for Vahid Novruzlu was transferred to his card. "I withdrew this money and gave it to Vahid. The amount was approximately 2-3 thousand manats," he said.

Then the witness's testimony given during the preliminary investigation was read out. According to this testimony, the amount transferred to the card was 3,155 manats. The witness confirmed his testimony given during the preliminary investigation.

Next, witness Nijat Velizade testified, who reported that the accused is his sister's husband.

"3,917 manats were transferred to my card. I withdrew this money and gave it to Vahid. I did not know in advance who sent the money. He said that money would come to the card, and I should withdraw it and give it to him. When I was giving him the money, I asked what kind of money it was? He replied that his brother sent it from abroad," Nijat Velizade said.

The witness also reported that Vahid Novruzlu arranged a job for him in the boiler room of the military unit. According to him, he worked under an employment contract and received a salary of about 400 manats.

Answering questions, the witness said that he did not know about the defendant's embezzlement of 340,000 manats and learned about it when he was called in for questioning.

Another witness, Fizuli Alekberov, reported that he worked as an accountant in the Housing and Maintenance Department of the defense department.

"I met Vahid Novruzlu through my acquaintance Elshan Salamov. 3,000 manats were transferred to my card. I withdrew this money and gave it to Elshan. After that, we became friends, money was repeatedly transferred to my card, and I withdrew it and transferred it to Elshan's card. I did not ask Elshan what kind of money it was," he said.

Then the judge named several witnesses and reported that they did not want to come to court. The judge asked the parties what measures should be taken against these witnesses.

The defendant's lawyer did not want their presence. The accused himself agreed with the lawyer. He stated that he had read the testimony given by these witnesses during the investigation and agreed with what they said.

After deliberating on the spot, the judges decided to forcibly bring these witnesses to court. Judge Fikret Aliyev reported that the decision would be sent to the Aghjabedi District Police Department at the witnesses' place of residence for execution.

The next hearing will be held on April 11.

Recall that Vahid Novruzlu was brought to criminal responsibility as part of an investigation conducted by the State Security Service (SSS).

At the initial stage, the investigative body provided the captain with the opportunity to remain free on the condition of compensating for the damage caused to the state, but since this was not done, subsequently a preventive measure in the form of arrest was chosen against him.

Criminal cases on the fact of embezzlement of 143 million manats in the Ministry of Defense are being considered in several proceedings in the Baku Military Court. At the beginning of 2022, 4 officers of the Ministry of Defense were arrested - the former head of the Financial and Budget Department, Major General Nizami Mammadov, the ex-head of the Financial Service of the Air Force Jalal Kazimov, the head of the Financial Department of the Ground Forces Bayram Bayramov, and the former head of the Financial Department of the Navy Vusal Alizade.

By the verdict of the Baku Military Court, N. Mammadov and B. Bayramov were deprived of liberty for a term of 11 years and 6 months each, J. Kazimov - for 11 years, V. Alizade - for 10 years and 6 months. At the same time, a decision was made to confiscate property