Taxi driver arrested in Azerbaijan for brutal murder of visually impaired woman

In Khachmaz district, a resident of Haspoladoba village, taxi driver Khagani Rakhmetov, has been arrested on suspicion of the brutal murder of 59-year-old Gulkhar Jahangirov, who suffered from visual impairments.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Oxu.Az, this information is contained in an official joint statement from the General Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan.

During a thorough investigation, law enforcement agencies established that on July 18, 2023, Khagani Rakhmetov, taking advantage of Gulkhar Jahangirov's vulnerable position, offered her his services as a taxi driver. However, instead of taking the woman to the specified address, he drove her to the bank of the Gudyalchay River near the village of Haspoladoba. There, the perpetrator forced the passenger out of the car, stole her wallet, and, using physical force, pushed the woman to the ground. Returning to the crime scene several hours later and discovering that the victim had died, Rakhmetov loaded the body into his car, transported it to a forest area near the village of Azizli, and hid it there along with the deceased's personal belongings.

The Khachmaz District Prosecutor's Office has initiated a criminal case under Articles 126.3 (intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm resulting in the victim's death by negligence) and 181.3.3 (robbery committed with causing grievous bodily harm to the victim) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. The suspect was detained by police officers and handed over to the investigation. Based on the request of the investigative body and the prosecutor's submission, the Khachmaz District Court chose detention as a preventive measure for the accused.

Currently, active investigative and operational search activities continue on the criminal case.

The General Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasize that the solving of past crimes is under their constant control, and work in this direction will continue.