The Prosecutor's Office of the Almaty Region has uncovered serious violations in the region's correctional facilities.
According to the department's press service, inmates used mobile phones for online shopping, taking out loans, and participating in gambling through bookmakers and online casinos, where the total financial turnover amounted to more than 3 billion tenge.
"Using mobile devices, convicts at facility No. 10 traded both prohibited and permitted items within the walls of the institution", the statement said.
In connection with this, the Almaty Region Prosecutor's Office conducted a pre-trial investigation under Article 361, Part 2-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result, by the verdict of the Ili District Court, three employees of this facility were sentenced to various penalties.
In addition, the regional prosecutor's office has initiated pre-trial investigations under Article 361, Part 2-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan against employees of facilities No. 12 and No. 57, and the head of facility No. 57 was taken into custody.
"The identified facts indicate ongoing violations in the penal system, including those involving the institution's own employees. The investigation is ongoing", the statement said.