Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr E. Javadova / Prosecutor urged to uphold the sentence for former senior criminal investigator in the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry Haji Mammadov and his gang. The guilt of the gang has been completely proved, the prosecutor said during the trial at the Baku Appeal Court on 12 November.
Haji Mammadov's gang was exposed by the National Security Ministry during Black Belt operation in March 2005. Gang's last crime was kidnapping of the wife of the president of the International Bank of Azerbaijan in February 2005 Zamira Hajiyeva.
As a result of the operation Hajiyeva was released and the gang was arrested. According to Mammadov, several criminals still remain at large. During preliminary investigation Interior Ministry revealed that between 1995 and 2005 Mammadov and his gang committed 13 murders, 8 kidnappings and other crimes. The gang includes Mamamdov's wife without civil registration.
Mammadov was charged with contravening Article 80 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code and was sentenced to life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Members of the gang Farhad Mammadbayov (with confiscation of property), Eldar Rahimov (with confiscation of property), Malik Mammadov (with confiscation of property), Huseyn Abdulvahabov (with confiscation of property), Zakir Nasirov (with confiscation of property), Kamil Sadraddinov (with confiscation of property), Musa Dabuyev, Aslanbay Chintamirov, and Yagir Mammadov were sentenced to life imprisonment. Other defendants Nizami Abdullayev (with confiscation of property), Sidak Abdulvahabov, Rovshan Agayev were sentenced to fifteen years, Naila Guliyeva (with confiscation of property) to thirteen years, Adalat Asadullayev and Novruz Nuriyev to twelve years, Aligulu Guliyev, Nishad Ismayilov to ten years, Faik Guliyev, Elchin Aliyev (with confiscation of property) to nine years, and Mehman Hasanov, Fariz Gamidov, Elshan Mirzayev to eight years imprisonment.
Agil Huseynov and Azar Aliyev were given a two year suspended sentence. The criminal case against Ibrahim Bagirov concerning a fine for state damage was suspended.
