Officials detained in Azerbaijan

Individuals accused of smuggling medicines into the country and receiving bribes for patronizing this activity have been exposed in Azerbaijan.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to a joint statement by the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Customs Committee (SCC), the preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated regarding illegal actions of employees of the Khachmaz Customs Office of the SCC involved in the commission of the crime continues in the Main Department for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General.

During the investigation, reasonable suspicions arose that the operative officer of the Operational Investigations Department of the Khachmaz Customs Office, Hidayat Mammadov, and the inspector of the "Azerterminalcomplex" association assigned to this department, Bayram Mammadov, having previously conspired and using their official position, received a bribe from citizen Arzu Abdullayev, who approached them, to ensure the passage through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan of a vehicle driven by Khaysuf Hajiyev and loaded with medicines and other goods, bypassing customs control.

Based on the collected primary evidence, Hidayat Mammadov has been charged under Articles 32.5, 206.3.2 (aiding in smuggling committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy), 308.2 (abuse of official powers resulting in grave consequences), 311.3.1 and 311.3.2 (repeated receipt of bribes by a group of persons by prior conspiracy), Bayram Mammadov - under Articles 308.2 and 311.3.1, and Arzu Abdullayev and Khaysuf Hajiyev - under Articles 200-1.2.2 (illegal trafficking of medicines committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy), 200-1.2.3 (illegal trafficking of medicines on a large scale) and 206.3.2 (smuggling committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy) of the Criminal Code.

Based on the request of the investigator conducting the preliminary investigation in the case, and the submission of the prosecutor exercising procedural guidance of the preliminary investigation, the court has chosen detention as a preventive measure for the accused Hidayat Mammadov, Bayram Mammadov, and Arzu Abdullayev, and police supervision for Khaysuf Hajiyev.

Currently, necessary investigative and operational search activities continue in the case, the results of which will be provided to the public as additional information.