Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. К.Zarbaliyeva / "I partially admit my guilty," said the former Azerbaijani Health Minister, Ali Insanov, during the court trial including Akif Maharramov, the former head of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Technical Department at the Health Ministry of Azerbaijan. The trial, held presided over by Judge, Gaila Mammadova, resumed at the Baku Appeals Court on 6 September.
Maharramov did not admit to his connection due to the lack of knowledge in his sphere. I have become acquainted with all rules in this sphere only after my arrest and understand now how many mistakes I have made during my term," Maharramov said.
Maharramov asked the court to take into consideration his disease, diabetes mellitus, and to reduce his sentence. "I have been suffering for twenty-three months psychologically and morally. I believe that I paid for all my mistakes. Nine years of imprisonment and being removed from science is the worst punishment for me," Maharramov pleaded.
Zaur Ibadov, Maharramov's attorney, claimed that the Azerbaijani government gained a large source of income through Maharramov's inventions. Ibadov said that Maharramov was arrested for taking $75,000 in bribes. Some $1.226mln was seized from Maharramov's apartment. The attorney asked the court to take into consideration Maharramov's condition while passing its final sentence.
During the trial respondents and attorneys made speeches asking the court to change part of the sentence.
The process will continue at 15.00 with a speech by Ali Insanov and attorneys.
The former minister was arrested in October 2005 for attempting to perform a coup d'etat, appropriation and embezzlement of state property, exceeding his commissions and responsibilities, and other serious crimes and was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment and confiscation of his property. Presently, Ali Insanov is kept in the Penal Service of the Bayil Investigation cell. The former minister demands a transfer to the medical institution of the Penal Service due to a herniated disc.
Former representatives of the Azerbaijani Health Ministry, Fakhraddin Abbasov, Anar Namazov, and Parviz Karimov were sentenced to seven years in prison, Fuad Mahmudov to seven years and six months, Vakil Abbasov to five years, Akif Maharramov to nine years and confiscation of his property, Eldar Rzayev to seven years, Haji Aliyev to seven years, Shovgu Jafarov to seven years, and Alexander Umrashkin to three years.