A court case has begun in Uzbekistan regarding the "Dok-1 Max" syrup, which is suspected of being the cause of the deaths of 65 people.

One of the defendants in the case involving the deaths of at least 65 children from the consumption of medicines from the Indian pharmaceutical company Marion Biotech, J.E., began his statement at the latest court session with expressions of condolences.

A former employee of the State Center for Expertise and Standardization of Medicines, Medical Devices, and Medical Equipment under the Agency for Pharmaceutical Industry Development, J.E., expressed condolences to the families of the 65 deceased children on the September court session. 

He stated that during his six years of work at the center, he had operated honestly and fully admitted guilt for one of the charges under Article 212 of the Criminal Code (facilitating bribery). In the previous hearing on September 22, after admitting guilt in facilitating a $33,000 bribe, his pretrial detention conditions were changed, and he was placed in custody.

The accused sincerely regretted his actions and mentioned that he had disclosed everything he knew during the investigation.

According to his account, in early June 2022, one of his fellow institute classmates called him and informed him that his supervisor, the director of Quramax Medical, R.P., wanted to speak with him.

"Soon, his supervisor called him. He suggested meeting at a café on the street. We met with him. While discussing his work, he mentioned that he had applied for the registration of the drug 'Kuraraks,' but this drug had undergone an inspection. He asked if there was a legal way to register the drug without an inspection. I told him that it was not within my authority. He replied that I should ask my supervisor, who had the authority for this," the man noted.

Afterwards, J.E. informed his supervisor, the head of the center's department of drug expertise and standardization, Sh.S., who initially did not respond but mentioned a few days later that $45,000 needed to be paid for the resolution.

"I told [Quramax's head] R.P. about it. He said he would inform his superiors and think about it. Later, he said that the amount was significant and asked if it could be reduced. My supervisor said the amount would be $40,000. The Indian said they could provide $33,000. My supervisor agreed," the accused stated.

The defendant added that he met with a representative of the Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer in the evening of June 30, 2022, received the money wrapped in white paper, placed it in a bag, and handed it over to his supervisor an hour later.

"I did not benefit from this money. I did not even unwrap the money wrapped in white paper. I held it in my hand for just an hour, and then I handed it over when my supervisor arrived," he said.

Indian citizen R.P., who headed Quramax Medical, previously admitted in court to giving $33,000 for the termination of the inspection but later changed his testimony. The head of the center's department, Sh.S., denies receiving any money.

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