The Inter-district Criminal Court of Astana has considered the case of a female city resident accused of fraud.
According to the press service of the capital's courts, the woman promised to help victims purchase housing on favourable terms under the state programme "Rental Housing with Subsequent Purchase". As a result, 25 victims suffered material damage totalling more than 301 million tenge.
The defendant did not admit guilt; lawyers requested an acquittal on the grounds of the absence of a criminal offence.
The court found the Astana resident guilty and sentenced her to 6 years' imprisonment, with a ban on holding financially responsible and managerial positions in commercial organisations for a period of 5 years. The civil claims of the victims were satisfied in full.
It will be recalled that in July last year, fraudsters who posed as intermediaries for the sale of confiscated cars and property were convicted in Aktau. They rented properties and, presenting them as confiscated assets, moved potential buyers in. They received the money upfront, promising to arrange the title documents later. As a result of the criminal activity, 39 people were affected. The material damage amounted to approximately 1 billion tenge.
In December, a resident of Astana who defrauded three victims of 38.6 million tenge was convicted. She misled them by promising to help them purchase apartments below market value in the 'BI City Tokyo' residential complex in Astana and the '4you' residential complex in Almaty.