The head of the migration department of the Shymkent police department, Sungat Tugelbayev, has been convicted of corruption. The amount involved in the case is $8,000.
According to inbusiness.kz, the former head received bribes for issuing residence permits and granting citizenship to foreigners. Along with the police officer, an intermediary, Akmariyal Soyirkaz, was also convicted.
"Soyirkaz, wishing to assist her acquaintances A. in obtaining permission for permanent residence in the Republic of Kazakhstan and Z. in being granted citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan through a simplified procedure, for the purpose of repeatedly acting as an intermediary in bribery, met with the head of the migration department of the Shymkent Police Department, Tugelbayev, in his office and gave him $3,000 as a bribe for A., and $5,000 for the simplified acquisition of citizenship for Z.", the case materials state.
The woman pleaded guilty and asked to be released from punishment. In turn, the former head of the migration police department completely denied his guilt.
As a result, the court found Soyirkaz guilty of mediation in bribery and, taking into account her sincere confession, imposed a fine of 7,137,140 tenge.
The head of the migration police, Tugelbayev, was also found guilty of repeatedly receiving bribes and was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment. Additionally, he was stripped of his rank of police colonel.
The convicted individuals were also banned for life from holding positions in the civil service and in state organisations. It is reported that the verdict has not yet entered into legal force, and the parties may appeal it.
Recall that last September, the Anti-Corruption Agency detained the head of the migration service department of the Abay region police department, Gulvira Donenbayeva. It was reported that Donenbayeva, through her subordinate, received a bribe of $1,000 for assisting in the transfer of a district police officer to a municipal unit of the migration service.