The Anti-Corruption Agency stated that the government, together with the transport prosecutor's office, will review the issue of worn-out passenger carriages in the country.
According to CMN.KZ, the First Deputy Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Service, Ulan Sarkulov, stated that the majority of Kazakhstani trains are in an unsatisfactory condition.
"There are many complaints and expressions of dissatisfaction from the public that the sanitary condition of our trains is appalling. Their maintenance also leaves much to be desired. Toilet facilities, cockroaches, and so on. This is being written about in our press. And, of course, all state bodies should be concerned about this," he said on the sidelines of the Mazhilis.
Sarkulov reported that since October last year, employees of the Anti-Corruption Service have been monitoring the quality of passenger trains, including those operated by private companies.
"I saw photos of trains on the Mangyshlak-Uralsk route and from Astana to Kostanay. These are indeed trains operated by the private sector. The state allocates subsidies. Accordingly, if money is allocated, we understand that the condition of these trains should be of decent quality; at a minimum, the basic requirements should be met—everything on the train that is supposed to work, should work," the statement reads.
At the same time, Ulan Sarkulov noted that the Anti-Corruption Service is only authorised to conduct investigations into carriers if evidence of corruption is found.
"If crimes are committed, we will, of course, hold these individuals accountable. We have once again prioritised this issue, and I hope it will be resolved soon. We have now raised the matter with the government, and the transport prosecutor's office will also get involved," he concluded.
Recall that in May last year, the court of the Beimbet Mailin district passed a sentence against officials of JSC "NC "KTZ" in the Kostanay region. They were found guilty of stealing diesel fuel and funds allocated for the repair of a railway crane, totalling 12 million tenge.
In early November, it was reported that a verdict was handed down in Astana against the former head of the automation and digitalisation directorate of JSC "NC "KTZ". He was accused of using his official position to obtain benefits and advantages for himself and others, which resulted in serious consequences for the organisation (Article 361, Part 4, Clause 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan).
Later, in the Aktobe region, the head of the Zhem operational locomotive depot of the "Batys" branch of LLP "KTZ-Freight Transportation" and his subordinate were convicted. They were found guilty of receiving a bribe of 1.5 million tenge through an intermediary—the human resources manager of the locomotive depot.