Belgorod hospital corruption case ends in conviction

A court in Belgorod, Russia, has convicted a hospital official for orchestrating a multi-year corruption scheme involving medical procurement contracts. The head of a regional hospital's laboratory helped a businessman win over 50 tenders, leading to the hospital paying more than 66 million rubles under fictitious contracts. The official received a three-year probation sentence and a fine, while the court also ordered the forfeiture of the entire 66 million rubles to the state. The investigation uncovered a long list of bribes from the businessman, including luxury watches, iPhones, furniture, a hotel stay, and a trip to Egypt.