Details have emerged about the activities of the financial pyramid «Asar Baspana», which was disguised as a consumer co-operative.
According to the press service of the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM), the organisers of the pyramid, headed by N.M. Tuganbayev, promising 86,000 citizens a monthly income of up to 30%, attracted 12.4 billion tenge.
«In reality, no real business existed; payments were made using the deposits of new participants. As a result, 3.8 billion tenge was illegally appropriated by Tuganbayev and his accomplices», the statement reads.
As the investigation established, the suspects convinced depositors that a construction materials production facility, a sewing workshop, and a factory for household and medical equipment existed in Almaty. In fact, the products were purchased from third-party suppliers and labelled with the «Asar Baspana» logo.
«From December 2024, when trust in the pyramid began to decline, the organisers spread false information about the launch of car showrooms and collaboration with dealers. In reality, the cars were purchased with depositors' money and registered in the names of Tuganbayev's relatives», the agency reported.
When law enforcement agencies became interested in the financial pyramid, Tuganbayev ordered the «Asar Baspana» website to be switched to technical mode to conceal traces of criminal activity.
«During the investigation, server data was recovered. It was established that out of 15,500 depositors who reached the 'Gold' level, an apartment was provided to only one. Under the 'Platina' programme, out of 15,000 applicants, a car was also given to only one depositor», the statement reads.
It is noted that law enforcement officers conducted searches at 49 offices and at the places of residence of 81 suspects, seizing 1.1 billion tenge, 10 premium-class cars, including a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 and Lexus 570, registered to Tuganbayev and his associates.
Furthermore, in Aktau, 945 million tenge in cash was seized from Tuganbayev's brother, funds that should have been in the co-operative's accounts. Additionally, authorised agencies seized and froze accounts totalling more than 1.2 billion tenge.
It will be recalled that the initiation of a criminal case against the management of «Asar Baspana» in Shymkent was reported in September 2023. It was noted then that the defendants in the case were accused of causing damage amounting to over 700 million tenge.
In February of this year, two organisers of the «Asar Baspana» financial pyramid were detained. By court order, they were remanded in custody for a period of 2 months.
It has become known that the suspects offered depositors the opportunity to invest funds in the purchase of property, vehicles, and household products (dietary supplements, kitchenware, cosmetics and other goods).