Soviet and Kazakh military figure – Major General Tursun Aizhulov stated that former akim of the East Kazakhstan Region Danial Akhmetov was accused, during his time as Minister of Defence, of receiving a bribe in the form of a suitcase of dollars from Israelis.
According to media, Aizhulov claims that Akhmetov was personally forgiven by then-President of Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev.
"Karibzhanov did not serve long as akim of the East Kazakhstan Region. The Family had significant interests there, and Karibzhanov, due to his integrity, was in no way suitable for protecting and satisfying them. A replacement was found for him – Bergenev, who suited the Family, and particularly Dariga. But soon a replacement was also found for him in the person of Danial Akhmetov – a loyal man. True, before that he had been caught red-handed by military counterintelligence officers for accepting a briefcase of dollars from Israelis while serving as Minister of Defence. He was forgiven by NAN. He nearly drank himself to death in Chubary. Then suddenly, with the rank of minister, he was sent to Moscow, and from there – as akim of the East Kazakhstan Region. It was an 'iron stake' driven in for the Family. And it was no coincidence that NAN extended his term as akim before stepping down. And the military counterintelligence officers who had caught Danial Akhmetov red-handed were replaced and sent into retirement", Aizhulov reported.
It should be recalled that Danial Akhmetov held the post of Minister of Defence from January 2007 to June 2009. In June of last year, President Tokayev signed a decree dismissing Danial Akhmetov from the position of akim of the East Kazakhstan Region. He had headed the region since November 2014.