Kazakhstan: more than 20 corrupt officials were convicted since the beginning of the year
The Anti-Corruption Agency reported another evidence of corruption in the country.
In Kostanay, anti-corruption fighters began a pre-trial investigation against the head of the construction department of the city hall.
“The Anti-Corruption Agency of Kostanay region has launched a pre-trial investigation against the head of the construction department of the city hall of Kostanay on the fact of receiving $1900 as a bribe from a realtor of the real estate agency for the unhindered conclusion of public procurement contracts for the purchase of apartments from individuals intended for temporary settlement of low-income families within the framework of the Nurly zher republican program”, the press service of the department informed.
The Agency also added that the anti-corruption officials didn’t begin to detain the head of the department, because the official fully admitted his guilt and filed a motion to end the criminal case in the form of expedited pre-trial proceedings.
Meanwhile, in Almaty region, corruption fighters have identified a bribe taker in the ranks of the armed forces of Kazakhstan. According to the Agency, together with the National Security agencies, a pre-trial investigation was launched against the deputy chief of headquarters of the Military Police Department of Taldykorgan’s garrison on suspicion of receiving $500 as a bribe for the patronage of businessmen providing food for military units.
The press service of the Anti-Corruption Agency also added that the commander of military unit No.18404 of Taldykorgan’s garrison, the deputy of military unit on the home front and the head of the food service are also suspected of protecting the businessmen. All of them are charged with the repeated receipt of bribes in a group of persons, acting in previous collusion, for patronage of entrepreneurial activities to provide food services in military units.
Corruption scandals in military units of Kazakhstan occur regularly. So, in December last year in Almaty region, when receiving a bribe, the head of the operational response department of the Military Police detachment of the regional garrison of Almaty with the rank of lieutenant colonel was detained. As ACCA reported then, the lieutenant colonel received $2500 from a resident of Almaty for assisting in his employment in the Military Police and further patronage of the service.
Meanwhile, as reported by the Anti-Corruption Agency, since the beginning of May more than 20 government officials have been convicted of corruption and official crimes in the republic. Eight of them were sentenced to restriction and imprisonment, the rest escaped with fines.
So, on May 13, Yerzhan Ainabekov, the former chairman of the State Inspection Committee in the agro-industrial complex of the Ministry of Agriculture, was sentenced in the capital of Kazakhstan. The former official was accused of abuse of power by unjustified conclusion of additional agreements with an individual entrepreneur to conduct chemical processing of locust pests in Zhambyl region in 2017, which entailed serious consequences. In addition, Ainabekov was charged with abuse of power: he demanded 4000 liters of pesticide from KazTrastCem for free; and illegally used a special equipment (belonging to the Committee’s jurisdictional organization) for processing sites. According to investigators, Ainabekov’s actions caused damage to the state in the amount of about $140 000. By the verdict of court No.2 of Baikonur district, Ainabekov was sentenced to six years in prison with life deprivation of the right to hold positions in the civil service.
