The former Chairman of the Board of OJSC International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) Jahangir Hajiyev in his closing statement in court on Monday asked to acquit him.
He said he did "nothing wrong", but enterprises were opened due to the IBA loans. Hajiyev said these loans cannot be considered "problematic" since the time of their redemption has not expired.
As for the major IBA debts, Hajiyev said it is necessary to ask the Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov, who manages the companies that received those same loans.
Hajiyev also called for an end to the "law enforcement terrorism" against him and his family.
The court postponed the sentencing indefinitely.
The lawyer of the former banker Aghil Lahijov believes the court failed to prove the guilt of Hajiyev, and the preliminary and judicial investigation was not objective. According to him, on the violation of Hajiyev’s rights a number of complaints have been filed to the European Court of Human Rights.
A complaint will be also filed on the main case, if the court issues a verdict of guilty.
Earlier, the prosecutor suggested sentencing Hajiyev to 17 years in prison.
* Along with Hajiyev before court are the former leaders of IBA subsidiaries: Anar Sultanov, Yusuf Alekperov, Ilgar Abdullayev, Kanan Orujov Mahammad Jahangirov, as well as the former director of the Baku plant for the processing of nuts Azad Javadov. They are charged under articles 179.3.1, 179.3.2 (embezzlement on a large scale by an organized group), 308.2 (abuse of power, resulting in grave consequences), 309.2 (abuse of power, resulting in grave consequences), 313 (forgery), 228.1 and 228.4 (illegal purchase, transfer, selling, storage, transportation or carrying of fire-arms, accessories to it, and supplies) of the Criminal Code.
Hajiyev resigned as head of the IBA on 18 March 2015 "for health reasons". After this a number of former high-ranking employees of IBA and businessmen who had received large loans from the bank were arrested. According to unofficial data, the amount of bad loans in IBA reached 6 billion dollars. Hajiyev was summoned for questioning following the resignation of the head of the MNS, his close relative Eldar Mahmudov, on October 17. On December 5 Hajiyev was arrested. According to the lawyer, he was charged with the assignment of 42 million manats, which was returned to the state in the form of shares of the bank for 80 million AZN. -C06-
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