A trial is underway in Astana for a former head of the culture department, Bolat Mazhagulov, and a representative of a contractor organisation.
According to the Telegram channel “Nege Aqsha”, the defendants are suspected of embezzling more than 1 billion tenge during the construction of the “Sun” fountain (“Light-illumination and fire show on the Yesil River”), which is in a state of disrepair and has not been operational since 2017.
It has emerged that the fountain was built without design and estimate documentation and without state expert examination. Substandard materials that did not meet technical specifications were used in its construction.
Alongside Mazhagulov in the dock is Madi Kanapin, who is accused of aiding and abetting. It is noted that a person with the same full name is listed as the head of several companies.
“Mazhagulov’s defence requested that the measure of restraint be changed from custody to a written undertaking not to leave the place of residence, or to house arrest. However, the prosecutor and the lawyer of the other defendant asked for the petition to be refused, because ‘Mazhagulov B.B. faces a serious charge, and Kanapin M.S. faces a charge of aiding and abetting a crime; furthermore, Mazhagulov B.B. attempted to flee during the investigation, failed to attend a face-to-face confrontation, and had tickets to fly abroad’”, the statement reads.
It is reported that after the indictment was read out, the defendants did not plead guilty.
To recap, within the framework of the case, property belonging to Bolat Mazhagulov, comprising 3 commercial premises, 2 parking spaces, and a premium-class apartment in Astana, was seized.
Incidentally, in September, following the news of Mazhagulov’s detention, a member of the Astana Public Council, Kanat Alin, proposed demolishing the “Sun” fountain. Alin recounted how, during the fountain’s construction, he repeatedly informed the akimat that it was being built with violations.
For his part, the deputy head of the Astana Department for Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management, Samat Abdullin, stated that the fountain could not be demolished in the near future, as it constitutes material evidence in the criminal case.