A court in Baku has sentenced social media influencer Ilduza Hajiyeva, known online as "Arzum 9999," to five years and two months in prison following a fatal traffic accident in the capital's Khazar district. The defendant was taken into custody directly from the courtroom.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that during the proceedings at the Khazar District Court, defense attorneys requested that the criminal case be returned to the preliminary investigation stage, a motion which was denied by the court. The defense also sought an acquittal, arguing that Hajiyeva had remained at the scene of the accident and assisted in transporting the victim to the hospital.
During the trial, defense counsel highlighted that Hajiyeva is a mother of four, noting that one of her children suffers from autism, and requested that these personal circumstances be considered in the sentencing. The defense also contested a civil claim valued at 104,000 manats. Conversely, the victim's side stated that they had intended for any civil damages to be directed toward families of martyrs and veterans, alleging that Hajiyeva had not taken steps toward reconciliation.
In her final statement, Hajiyeva maintained her innocence and requested a fair verdict. Ultimately, the court sentenced her to five years and two months of imprisonment, along with a two-year and six-month ban on operating motor vehicles. The civil claim was left unexamined.
The incident occurred last June in the Mardakan settlement of the Khazar district. According to the investigation, Hajiyeva's vehicle maneuver caused a collision involving another car, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury. She was charged under Articles 263.2 (violation of traffic rules resulting in death) and 264 (leaving the scene of a traffic accident) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
