Lala Novruzova, who served as deputy director of the Shamakhi City Arts Education Center between 2013 and 2022, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on charges of large-scale embezzlement. Despite the conviction, the 64-year-old has consistently maintained her innocence, claiming in her appeal that she was punished for crimes she did not commit while the real perpetrators escaped accountability.

According to Bizimyol.info, the Sumgayit Court of Appeal has now revised the initial verdict. While her sentence was increased from three years and six months to five years, the court ruled it should be suspended under Article 70 of the Criminal Code, meaning Novruzova has been released on probation.

Prosecutors had argued that the original sentence was too lenient. At trial in the Sumgayit Serious Crimes Court, they had sought a six-year prison term. They also objected to the use of Article 62 of the Criminal Code, which allowed the trial court to hand down a sentence below the statutory minimum of five years for the crime of large-scale embezzlement under Article 179.3.2.

Novruzova was accused of formally registering individuals who never worked at the Arts Education Center as employees, withdrawing their monthly salaries from bank cards, and appropriating the funds. Investigators alleged that she embezzled more than 46,000 manats and misused a further 17,000 manats.

In her appeal, Novruzova and her lawyer insisted the case had not been fairly or objectively investigated, pointing to the roles of the center’s director and economic manager, named Maleyka, who they claimed bore primary responsibility. “Lala was deputy director for academic affairs. She neither had the authority nor the means to carry out these actions. Yet her name is singled out, while the real decision-makers remain untouched. This charge is based on bias and personal motives,” the defense argued.

The appellate court agreed in part, amending the verdict. While extending the sentence to five years and removing the leniency provisions applied by the lower court, it imposed a suspended sentence, sparing Novruzova from serving time in prison.

The appeal also overturned the Ministry of Culture’s civil claim for 32,215 manats in damages, which the first-instance court had upheld. The ministry had been recognized as an injured party in the case, but the appellate ruling dismissed its compensation claim.

Aytən, Bizimyol.info