Ex-Tokyo-City manager fined for mass poisoning, bribery attempt
On January 30, the Primorsky District Court of St. Petersburg sentenced Sherzod Melikmurodov. He was found guilty of violating sanitary and epidemiological rules, which led to negligent poisoning, and of attempted petty bribery, imposing a fine of 550,000 rubles (approximately $5,500 at current rates).
In late November 2024, Melikmurodov, responsible for the kitchen operations at the restaurant on Sizov Avenue, failed to ensure proper compliance with standards. As a result, products contaminated with salmonella were released, leading to the poisoning of at least 43 people.
A second criminal case arose in May 2024. At that time, Melikmurodov, who was stopped by a traffic police inspector on Sinopskaya Embankment for driving a Hyundai without documents, attempted to give a bribe. He placed 3,400 rubles (approximately $34 at current rates) in the glove compartment of the patrol car.
The defendant fully admitted his guilt, and the trial was conducted in a special procedure. In addition to the main fine, the court ordered him to pay 50,000 rubles (approximately $500 at current rates) in compensation for moral damages to one of the victims.
Representatives of the Tokyo-City chain stated that after the incident, they strengthened control over sanitary rules in all restaurants. «We have implemented additional measures — stricter than legal requirements,» the company said. Tokyo-City also reported that it contacted all the victims and provided them with necessary support.
The investigation revealed that salmonella and listeria bacteria were found in the fish products supplied to the restaurant.
