On 19 June, a sentence was passed in Almaty against former judge of the Medeu District Court Svetlana Zholmanova. She was found guilty of fraud on an especially large scale.
According to Informburo.kz, from 2021 to 2024, Zholmanova obtained citizens' money totalling more than 1 billion tenge under the pretext of helping with property purchases and participation in tender projects. The investigation uncovered 48 criminal episodes, which were combined into a single case. Among the victims were judges, lawyers and her acquaintances.
It is reported that during the court proceedings, Svetlana Zholmanova repeatedly refused to attend hearings and did not make a final statement.
Ultimately, the court found her guilty and sentenced her to 10 years in prison. It is noted that there was a second defendant in the case — Daniyar Kushaliyev, who acted as an intermediary. He pleaded guilty, cooperated with the investigation and partially compensated for the damage caused. The court sentenced him to 3 years in prison.
For context, last October, news emerged of Zholmanova's detention. She was suspected of defrauding several victims.
Incidentally, that Zholmanova had been caught committing fraud became known back in April 2021, when $10,000 was seized from her during a search of her office. Later, by order of the Chairman of the Supreme Court, the judge's powers were suspended. In 2023, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed her.