Akif Chovdarov's trial resumed - UPDATED

Akif ChovdarovUPDATED '>
# 13 February 2017 15:17 (UTC +04:00)

Baku’s Sabunchu district court on Monday resumed the trial in the criminal case involving Major General Akif Chovdarov, former head of the main energy and transport security directorate under the liquidated Ministry of National Security (MNS) of Azerbaijan, and other people arrested alongside him.

Victims Nasib Aliyev and Aflatun Karimov gave testimony in the trial presided over by Baku Military Court chairman Habib Hasanov, APA reported.

Nasib Aliyev, who is imprisoned on charges of swindle, said Chovdarov received money from him three times. However, he could not answer the question about where Chovdarov’s room was.

Chovdarov’s attorneys refused, saying the victim had given the exact whereabouts of the room during the preliminary investigation. Aliyev confirmed the testimony he had given during the preliminary investigation.

Victim Karimov said he did not suffer any financial damage, noting that he was detained at the MNS. He pleaded not guilty.

The trial will be resumed on February 15.

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14:51

Baku’s Sabunchu district court on Monday resumed the trial in the criminal case involving Major General Akif Chovdarov, former head of the main energy and transport security directorate under the liquidated Ministry of National Security (MNS) of Azerbaijan, and other people arrested alongside him.

Witness Zakir Mustafayev gave testimony in the trial presided over by Baku Military Court chairman Habib Hasanov, APA reported.

Mustafayev said he was not personally familiar with Akif Chovdrov. “I knew him as a fellow countryman. Despite the fact that Zakir Badalov owed me money, I have neither met nor asked him to assist me in taking my money back.”

Mustafayev claimed that Zakir Badalov owed him $500,000, whereas he paid $270,000 back, but not the rest.

The trial will proceed later in the day.

In his testimony during the preliminary investigation, Badalov said he borrowed $100,000 from his relative Zakir Mustafayev at interest. He gave back $125,000 with interest.

According to Badalov, Georgian citizen Zakir Mustafayev threatened him through the MNS and demanded extra $150,000, then $200,000.

“My relative Zakir Mustafayev offered me to open a cafe on the first floor of my house. He lent money to me, 60,000 manats in 2006 and 30,000 manats a few months later. He gave extra 10,000 manats as I failed to complete the works. He wanted me to return money with 5% interest per month. I agreed on it. Zakir Mustafayev told me to give 150,000 manats during construction of his house in Bakikhanov settlement. He told me to give the money to his uncle Abdul Habibov. I gave 125,000 manats to his uncle. Then he called and demanded extra 150,000 manats. But I didn’t give the money. He threatened me with gun. I took credit from the bank and gave him these funds. Then, I was summoned by MSN employee Salim Mammadov. My neighbor Tofig Aliyev told me to go to Salim Mammadov. I was said that I owe 200,000 manats to Zakir Mustafayev and I would be deported from the country if failing to pay the debt. They seized my ID card. Akif Chovdarov is also my relative,” Badalov said.

Akif Chovdarov faces charges under Articles 145.3 (illegal deprivation of freedom of a person, causing to the death of the victim or other serious consequences by negligence), 179.3.1, 179.3.2 (embezzlement or waste by an organized group on a large scale), 181.3.1, 181.3.2 (robbery committed by an organized group in order to seize the property on a large scale), 182.3.1, 182.3.2 (extortion, committed by an organized group in order to obtain property on a large scale), 228.4 (illegal purchase, selling or carrying of gas weapon, cold steel, including throwing weapon), 302.1, 302.2 (implementation operative - search actions by not authorized persons, as well as implementation of these actions by authorized persons, but without grounds provided by the legislation, entailed essential, and the same acts committed with use of special means, intended for secret dredging the information), 311.3.1, 311.3.2, 311.3.3, 311.3.4 (bribe-taking by a group of persons on preliminary arrangement, committed repeatedly on a large scale with the use of threats), 313 (service forgery), 341.2.1, 341.2.2, 241.2.3 (abusing authority, excess or inactivity of authority committed by a group of persons, committed with the use of weapons, resulted in grave consequences) of the Criminal Code. The former head of the first department of the ministry’s main directorate Salim Mammadov is charged under articles 145.3, 179.3.1, 179.3.2, 181.3.1, 181.3.2, 182.3.1, 182.3.2, 302.1, 302.2, 311.3.1, 311.3.2, 311.3.3, 311.3.4, 313, 341.2.1, 341.2.2 and 341.2.3; the former head of the second department Akif Aliyev is charged under articles 145.3, 179.3.1, 179.3.2, 181.3.1, 181.3.2, 182.3.1, 182.3.2, 302.2, 311.3.1, 311.3.2, 311.3.3, 311.3.4, 313, 341.2.1, 341.2.2 and 341.2.3; the former deputy head of the first division of the third department Orkhan Osmanov is charged under 145.3, 181.3.1, 181.3.2, 182.3.1, 182.3.2, 302.2, 311.3.1, 311.3.2, 311.3.3, 311.3.4, 341.2.1, 341.2.2 and 341.2.3.

The court ordered seizure on property and cash worth of 33,466,000, trade and service sectors, greenhouses, aquaculture farms and other property complexes, land plots worth of 8,967,000 manats, private houses, apartments and vehicles worth of 24,445,000 manats, jewelry worth of 37,000 manats belonging to the accused persons –- Akif Chovdarov, Salim Mammadov, Akif Aliyev and Orkhan Osmanov to compensate damage caused to the aggrieved persons.

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THE OPERATION IS BEING PERFORMED