In a landmark verdict, Singh Ragvendra Pratar, director of Kuramax Medical, the producer of "Dok-1 Max" syrup, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by deportation to India. Additionally, former Farmagency head Sardor Kariyev received an 18-year sentence, while his deputies, Amirkhan Azimov and Nodirbek Musayev, were sentenced to 16 years each.
These sentences are to be served in general-order colonies.
The judicial panel that considered the case of "Dok-1 Max" determined that the legal representatives of 68 children who died of syrup poisoning will be jointly and severally charged UZS 1bn ($79,985) at the expense of 6 defendants. Compensation in the amount of UZS 500mn ($39,992) and UZS 200mn ($15,997) will be collected from the legal representatives of 16 people who became disabled due to severe injuries and those who received minor injuries.
The Tragedy Unfolds
The "Dok-1 Max" tragedy unfolded in January 2023, stemming from the use of "Dok-1 Max" and "Ambronol" syrup for children's colds in October, November, and December 2022. Initially reported in Samarkand, the drug resulted in the deaths of 68 children, with numerous others experiencing severe side effects.
Court Proceedings and Revelations
During the 7-month court investigation, it was uncovered that experiments were conducted on mice to detect toxins in the syrup. Additionally, former officials of the Agency for the Development of Pharmaceutical Industry were implicated in bribery cases related to drug registration. Despite denials from accused officials, intermediaries admitted to facilitating bribery. Pretrial detention was imposed on several defendants.
Expanding Scope and Accountability
In December 2023, the case expanded to include incidents related to the disability of 16 children and the deaths of 3 more. The number of defendants increased from 21 to 23, with a corresponding rise in pretrial detentions.
During proceedings, medical personnel faced scrutiny, with officials from the Ministry of Health, including Deputy Minister Elmira Bosikhonava, questioned. While acknowledging delayed recognition of the tragedy, medical staff were lauded for their efforts to save the affected children. Bosikhonava extended an apology on behalf of the medical community, seeking forgiveness from the public.
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