Kazakhstan: state holding is suspected of embezzlement
The Anti-Corruption Agency has launched a pre-trial investigation against officials of the national managing holding “Baiterek” regarding the theft of budget funds.
According to the investigator for particularly important cases of the first department of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Daniyar Bigaydarov, the amount of theft is about $463 000.
“A pre-trial investigation has been launched against officials of the holding “Baiterek” and other persons regarding the theft of budget funds allocated for the purchase of consulting services to transform the business model of a subsidiary organization «National Agency for Technological Development” in the amount of $463 000,” Bigaydarov said.
He also explained that the investigation is being conducted by the Anti-Corruption Service in the city of Nur-Sultan.
Meanwhile, the national managing holding itself announced on this occasion that in Baiterek, they are intolerant of any form of corruption and are ready to provide any assistance to the investigating authorities.
“In November last year, the holding received a statement about the need to conduct an audit on the possible fact of theft of funds in the holding in the amount of $463 000. The Internal Audit and Compliance Holding Service conducted a fact check, as a result of which there were no violations of internal procurement procedures for consulting services. The results of the audit were sent to the Department of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the city of Nur-Sultan. It should be noted that the holding provided comprehensive assistance to the investigating authorities,” says Baiterek in its official statement.
It also explains that the holding, being the main financial operator of the government of Kazakhstan, values its reputation and, being sure that there were no embezzlement facts, asks the Anti-Corruption Service to inform the media about the results of the audit in order to comply with the principle of transparency.
