In the inter-district criminal court of Ust-Kamenogorsk, a verdict was announced for the former first deputy general director of the city hydroelectric centre, Serik Atshabar. He was found guilty of illegal entrepreneurship resulting in the extraction of income on an especially large scale.
According to Hronika.kz, Atshabar created and controlled several commercial entities: LLP "DHT Neftegazmashservice", "VK Energy", "Pyrolysis", "HPP Shakharim", "VK Energia", "Tumar Mura" and "Tulpar Shygys", through which he illegally sold electricity to mining companies.
As the investigation established, in 2022 representatives of Chinese companies offered to connect equipment for a crypto farm to the substation.
Atshabar agreed to the terms and organised a scheme whereby the sale of electricity was carried out by LLP "DHT Neftegazmashservice", and the connection and transmission of electricity by LLP "VK Energia".
According to the deputy director, after the introduction of a ban on energy supply to miners in April 2023, he allegedly was unaware of the new restrictions and continued his activities.
The investigation considered the defendant's actions to be deliberate and aimed at extracting personal gain. The total amount of illegal income amounted to 763.5 million tenge.
Ultimately, the court found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to one year and three months suspended. He was also ordered to pay 775 million tenge to the budget. The verdict has entered into legal force.
Incidentally, after the announcement of the court decision, the head of the branch of the Republican Public Association "Centre for Supporting the President's Policy on Anti-Corruption", Serik Baigaliyev, drew attention to the lack of managerial accountability at JSC "Samruk-Energy".
"The convicted person's property has been seized – apartments, cars. Now the question is for Kairat Maksutov (Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Energy): why is an employee who worked under the supervision of General Director Tlek Aidabulov convicted, while he bears no personal responsibility? Is that acceptable? Are you covering for him?" he stated.
He appealed to the head of the holding company, Nurlan Zhakupov, demanding an internal investigation and an assessment of the actions of his subordinates.