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Azerbaijan wraps up investigation into the case of a group of â€œpublic blackmailersâ€

11 January 2008 17:12 (UTC +04:00)

The office told APA that the investigation was instituted on the basis of blow-whistler complaints about an organization so called â€œCouncil for Public Control over Corruption and Negative Casesâ€. The probe showed that the organization, established by Mahmudov Shahin Makhsud in 2006, applied to the Ministry of Justice for registration but was rejected. The organization continued operation without permission. Mahmudov declared that the council was established on recommendations and support of the countryâ€™s leadership and is financed by foreign donors and will offer $500-$600 salary to members.
Mahmudov established â€œrepresentative officesâ€ in 62 regions of the country and appointed officers. He empowered its members to receive complaints, examine and document the negative cases in protocol in local areas.
In February-June, 2007, the â€œcouncilâ€, misappropriating powers of the government agencies, inspected legal and individual bodies for tax evasion, ecological, sanitarian issues and held examination in trade outlets. They send blanks of questionnaire to various institutions, reviewed their assets and accounts, financial records and checked other activities. They documented results of illegal examinations and demand money, by threatening and swindling. An officer of the Council also defrauded Soltan Abbasov of $10,000 under pretext that they will help recruitment of his son in the Ministry of National Security.
Shirinov Ramin Shahin was held accountable under Article 178 (swindle) of the Criminal Code. He has escaped and the court passed a decision on his arrest and search has been launched. Mahmudov Shahin Makhsud, head of Agjabadi region representation of the â€œcouncilâ€ Jafarov Azer Gani faced charges under article 310 (assignment of powers of the official), head of Aghdam region representation of the â€œcouncilâ€ Gasimov Eldar Israfil under article 178 (swindle), 182 (extortion) and 310 (Assignment of powers of the official) of the criminal code. They have been arrested and the criminal case has been submitted to the Court of Grave Crimes.
General Prosecutorâ€™s Office reports that illegal inspections conducted by the representations of the â€œcouncilâ€ in Berde, Gusar, Baku cities and Nizami and other districts and other facts are being investigated. Ismayilov Salman Kheyrulla, Rustamov Fazil Abbas and Mammadov Mahammad Bayram faced charges under article 310 (swindle) of the Criminal Code and were arrested. Aliyev Ganjali Yunis escaped and search has been launched.
Head of the organizationâ€™s Nasimi district representation Mehman Ibrahimov, member of the representation Pasha Huseynov and Majid Khasiyev left the â€œcouncilâ€ seeing that it was not registered and established another organization â€œCouncil for Public Control over Corruption and Negative Casesâ€. Majid Khasiyev, who had worked for law-enforcement bodies, became the chairman of the organization. The founders applied to Justice Ministry for registration, but the application was rejected. Despite this, the organization situated in Akhundov street, 6th micro district in Binagadi district, Baku received applications for membership. Measures are being taken to investigate illegal acts of the two councils and to hold the offenders accountable.
Azerbaijani General Prosecutorâ€™s Office requests those who are informed about the illegal actions of the â€œCouncil for Public Control over Corruption and Negative Casesâ€ to call the following phone numbers:
492-55-40, 492-01-38. /APA/