The trial of Ilgar Mustafayev, former Chairman of the Management Board of the Seaside Boulevard Administration, his assistant Rashad Badalov, and Fuad Babayev, Director of “GIRASOL” LLC, has continued.
Sea-news.az citing Oxu.Az, that witnesses testified at the trial held at the Baku Serious Crimes Court under the chairmanship of Judge Leyla Asgarova-Mammadova.
One of the witnesses testifying in court was Agababa Babayev, who monitored ships on the boulevard and was engaged in ticket sales.
The witness stated that he controlled ships and engaged in ticket sales in the Seaside Boulevard area between 2017 and 2023:
“I sold tickets in 2017, and starting from 2018, we began selling tickets through cash registers. It was impossible to sell tickets outside the cash register. One of the ships operating on the boulevard had a capacity of 350 passengers, and the other 60 passengers. The ‘Mirvari’ ship operated from mid-May to September. The ticket price was 3 manats during the period I worked, and 5 manats after the pandemic. The 60-passenger ‘Shafaq’ ship operated in winter, and the 350-passenger ‘Mirvari’ ship in summer months.”
The witness also stated that no specific number of passengers was determined for ships to go on a voyage. He said that passenger ships did not operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ismayil Kangarli, the lawyer for the accused Ilgar Mustafayev, stated that there were contradictions between the testimony given by the witness in court and his statements to the investigation.
According to the lawyer, although the witness stated that travel ships did not operate on the boulevard during the pandemic, the investigation materials noted that travel ships transported 80,000 passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, one of the witness’s statements to the investigation indicated that the “Shafaq” ship did not go on a voyage without a minimum of 30 passengers, and the “Mirvari” ship without a minimum of 100 passengers.
The lawyer asked about the reason for this contradiction.
In response, Agababa Babayev stated that just as there were those who waited for a designated number of passengers to gather, there were also passengers who left without waiting.
Another striking claim was voiced during the trial.
Lawyer Ismayil Kangarli stated that the State Maritime and Port Agency reported to the investigation that travel ships went on voyages during nighttime hours – at 01:00, 02:00, 04:00, and 05:00, and also that 430 passengers were accepted onto a 60-passenger ship.
The lawyer noted that the Agency submitted one figure to the court and another to the investigation.
In response to the lawyer, the judge stated that this matter would be investigated during the stage of examining documents.
The next court session was scheduled for September 16.
To note, based on materials received from the Chamber of Accounts regarding the inspection of the activities of the Seaside Boulevard Administration, an investigation was conducted in the Main Department for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General.
According to the indictment, Ilgar Mustafayev is accused of embezzling, together with his assistant Rashad Badalov, “GIRASOL” LLC director Fuad Babayev, and other individuals, more than 12 million manats of funds obtained from the leasing of non-residential areas located on the institution’s territory, the organization of commercial facility activities, ship tours, and other activities by entering false information into official documents.
In addition, Ilgar Mustafayev is accused of evading the payment of more than 1 million 800 thousand manats of taxes to the state budget, as well as legalizing more than 10 million manats of funds claimed to be obtained through criminal means by concluding transactions in the names of himself and his relatives to purchase various properties.
Charges have been brought against Ilgar Mustafayev under Articles 179.4, 193-1.3.2, 213.3, 308.2, and 313 of the Criminal Code, and against Fuad Babayev and Rashad Badalov under Articles 179.4, 308.2, and 313.
A measure of restraint in the form of detention has been chosen regarding Ilgar Mustafayev, and placement under police supervision regarding the other accused individuals.
To ensure the compensation of the damage determined under the criminal case, property valued at more than 11 million manats has been seized.
The guilt of the accused individuals has not been confirmed by a legally binding court verdict.
