The number of witnesses on Salim Muslimov‘s case is 341 people.
On August 15, the trial of the former Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, Salim Muslimov, who is accused of embezzlement and bribery worth of 27 million AZN, began at the Baku Court of Serious Crimes. The former minister’s case is being reviewed by a panel of judges.
It was decided on court that Salim Muslimov should pay around twenty-million AZN for the damage caused to the state as compensation. The former minister’s property worth eight-million AZN was also seized by judicial order.
The indictment states that Muslimov embezzled money originally destinated to families of veterans and disabled veterans. Bribes were taken when private houses were being built in the regions.
At the same time, it is alleged that the heads of the companies that carried out the repair and construction of sanatoriums, spas, and treatment facilities for the disabled paid bribes for getting the service. For example, as a result of the renovation of the treatment boarding house in Mardakan, it was reflected in the indictment that nearly half a million AZN of embezzlement was allowed by the former minister.
In addition, it seems that Muslimov received bribes from 10- to 30-thousand AZN from the heads of various regional departments of the institutions under the ministry (for instance, the State Social Protection Fund and the Labor Inspectorate).
Salim Muslimov has not yet commented on the announced accusations. The announcement of the indictment will be continued at the next meeting to be held on August 29.
It is alleged that Salim Muslimov caused more than 13-million AZN of damage to the state by accepting bribes, and more than 14-million AZN as a result of embezzlement or through direct embezzlement.
In total, around 6-million AZN remains unpaid from the damages.
The number of witnesses in this case is 341 people. They are mainly employees of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population in finance, construction and other fields, and representatives of contracting companies that participated in the construction of health centers, residential buildings, and sanatoriums built for people with disabilities.
Salim Muslimov, who was arrested at the beginning of 2021, was released to house arrest in May of this year. The reason for his release from prison is that he has serious health problems.
61-year-old Salim Muslumov worked as the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population in 2013-2018. Before that he was the head of the State Social Protection Fund in 2002-2013, and before that he was the deputy chairman of the State Customs Committee in 2000-2002.
