Uzbekistan state prosecutors on Wednesday (August 16) alleged that distributors of a contaminated Indian cough syrup that killed 65 children in the country bribed local officials with $33,000 to go around mandatory testing.

Uzbekistan has put 21 people on trial: 20 Uzbeks and one Indian. The allegations have, for the first time, made public a much higher death toll.&nbsp;

Three of the defendants (an Indian and two Uzbekistan nationals) are executives of Quramax Medical, a company that sold medicines produced by India’s Marion Biotech, in Uzbekistan.

State prosecutor Saidkarim Akilov said that Quramax CEO Singh Raghvendra Pratar allegedly bribed officials at the state centre for expertise and standardisation of medicinal products. The bribe of $33,000 was allegedly paid so that mandatory inspection of products would be skipped.

It was unclear from the prosecutor’s statement whether the inspection was supposed to involve tests in Uzbekistan, or a request for tests to be carried out by the producer in India.

Pratar spoke in court and denied the charges. However, he admitted to handing over the sum to Uzbek officials through an intermediary as a "token of appreciation". Pratar claimed that he had no idea as to how and by whom the money was later used.

Seven of the 21 defendants have pleaded guilty to at least some of the charges levelled against them.

These include tax evasion, sale of substandard or counterfeit medicines, abuse of office, negligence, forgery, and bribery.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-people-die-in-new-york-due-to-flesh-eating-bacteria-626271">Three people die in New York due to 'flesh-eating' bacteria</a>

Officials have not said why 45 deaths had remained unreported since last year.

On Wednesday, state prosecutors also said that Quramax had imported the medicines at an inflated price. The medicines were bought via two Singapore-based intermediary companies, they said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Uzbekistan state prosecutors on Wednesday (August 16) alleged that distributors of a contaminated Indian cough syrup that killed 65 children in the country bribed local officials with $33,000 to go around mandatory testing.

Uzbekistan state prosecutors on Wednesday (August 16) alleged that distributors of a contaminated Indian cough syrup that killed 65 children in the country bribed local officials with $33,000 to go around mandatory testing. Uzbekistan has put 21 people on trial: 20 Uzbeks and one Indian. The allegations have, for the first time, made public a much higher death toll. Three of the defendants (an Indian and two Uzbekistan nationals) are executives of Quramax Medical, a company that sold medicines produced by India’s Marion Biotech, in Uzbekistan. State prosecutor Saidkarim Akilov said that Quramax CEO Singh Raghvendra Pratar allegedly bribed officials at the state centre for expertise and standardisation of medicinal products. The bribe of $33,000 was allegedly paid so that mandatory inspection of products would be skipped. It was unclear from the prosecutor’s statement whether the inspection was supposed to involve tests in Uzbekistan, or a request for tests to be carried out by the producer in India. Pratar spoke in court and denied the charges. However, he admitted to handing over the sum to Uzbek officials through an intermediary as a "token of appreciation". Pratar claimed that he had no idea as to how and by whom the money was later used. Seven of the 21 defendants have pleaded guilty to at least some of the charges levelled against them. These include tax evasion, sale of substandard or counterfeit medicines, abuse of office, negligence, forgery, and bribery. Also Read | Three people die in New York due to 'flesh-eating' bacteria Officials have not said why 45 deaths had remained unreported since last year. On Wednesday, state prosecutors also said that Quramax had imported the medicines at an inflated price. The medicines were bought via two Singapore-based intermediary companies, they said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Uzbekistan starts trial against 21 for bribery enabling sale of contaminated Indian cough syrup

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with Gambian scientists have concluded that the contaminated cough syrups imported into Gambia are likely the cause of the deaths of 66 children due to acute kidney injury.&nbsp;

The report&nbsp;published in the New England&nbsp;Journal of Medicine on Thursday strongly suggested that medicines contaminated with the toxins led to a cluster of acute kidney injuries among&nbsp;78 kids, and&nbsp;66 deaths between June and September 2022.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-to-probe-indian-indonesian-firms-over-cough-syrup-linked-deaths-report-555569">Also read |&nbsp;WHO to probe Indian, Indonesian firms over cough syrup linked deaths: Report&nbsp;</a>

The official death toll now stands at 70, after four more children died since September 2022. Most of the kids were aged under two.&nbsp;

The conclusions were reached after examination of medical records of patients and interviewes with parents and caregivers. It also mentioned other evidences contributing to the conclusion&nbsp;such as the tests of the medicines, the fact that the illness did not spread to adults and pointed towards a toxin agent rather than an infectious.

The links between the contaminated medicine&nbsp;and children's&nbsp;deaths came to light in October 2022, when the World Health Organization (WHO) raised an alert saying four cough syrups made by India's Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd contain toxic levels of diethylene and ethylene glycol and should be stopped.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-cough-syrups-linked-to-uzbekistan-deaths-should-not-be-used-for-kids-says-who-551885">Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;Indian cough syrups linked to kids’ deaths in Uzbekistan should not be used, says WHO</a>

Maiden has repeatedly denied that its drugs were at fault for the deaths in Gambia and even the Indian government said that the syrups did not show any contamination when it tested them.&nbsp;

The company might resume work. Production had been stopped in October.

There have been several poisoning linked to diethylene and ethylene glycol in the past, in countries including Haiti and Nigeria.

Since deaths in the Gambia, over 200 children died in Indonesia, and 19 in Uzbekistan, all linked to different cough syrups.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

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The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with Gambian scientists have concluded that the contaminated cough syrups imported into Gambia are likely the cause of the deaths of 66 children due to acute kidney injury.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with Gambian scientists have concluded that the contaminated cough syrups imported into Gambia are likely the cause of the deaths of 66 children due to acute kidney injury. The report published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday strongly suggested that medicines contaminated with the toxins led to a cluster of acute kidney injuries among 78 kids, and 66 deaths between June and September 2022. Also read | WHO to probe Indian, Indonesian firms over cough syrup linked deaths: Report The official death toll now stands at 70, after four more children died since September 2022. Most of the kids were aged under two. The conclusions were reached after examination of medical records of patients and interviewes with parents and caregivers. It also mentioned other evidences contributing to the conclusion such as the tests of the medicines, the fact that the illness did not spread to adults and pointed towards a toxin agent rather than an infectious. The links between the contaminated medicine and children's deaths came to light in October 2022, when the World Health Organization (WHO) raised an alert saying four cough syrups made by India's Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd contain toxic levels of diethylene and ethylene glycol and should be stopped. Also read | Indian cough syrups linked to kids’ deaths in Uzbekistan should not be used, says WHO Maiden has repeatedly denied that its drugs were at fault for the deaths in Gambia and even the Indian government said that the syrups did not show any contamination when it tested them. The company might resume work. Production had been stopped in October. There have been several poisoning linked to diethylene and ethylene glycol in the past, in countries including Haiti and Nigeria. Since deaths in the Gambia, over 200 children died in Indonesia, and 19 in Uzbekistan, all linked to different cough syrups. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Gambia cough syrup deaths: US CDC concludes contaminated medicines likely to blame

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Uzbekistan starts trial against 21 for bribery enabling sale of contaminated Indian cough syrup

Gambia cough syrup deaths: US CDC concludes contaminated medicines likely to blame