(26 January 2026 | Source: press service of the Agency for Financial Monitoring of the Republic of Kazakhstan)
The owner of the Active Lombard chain is suspected of organising illegal micro-loan lending and money laundering. The investigation has established that fictitious contracts and multiple transfers of funds between accounts were arranged through affiliated companies. The court has imposed a seizure on property belonging to the suspect and his accomplices.
CONTEXT AND SCALE OF ACTIVITIES
Previously, the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) identified a scheme of illegal micro-loan lending through the pawnbroker chain Active Lombard, which was disguised as commission shops. Approximately 200 branches were operating in various regions of the country.
According to the agency, the chain owner registered companies under the brand 'Active Market' in the names of trusted individuals, which nominally engaged in the purchase of household appliances but in fact issued loans secured by property without a licence. The commission shops and pawnbrokers operated jointly — in the same premises with the same staff.
By law, the maximum interest rate on short-term loans (up to 45 days) must not exceed 0.3% per day, however the company provided loans for 15 days with an interest rate of 1.73% to 2.07% per day, significantly exceeding the established limit. As a result, over 1.9 million contracts were concluded, and the criminal proceeds exceeded 19 billion tenge.
Hundreds of thousands of citizens, including pensioners and low-income families, found themselves in debt dependency.
MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME
According to the investigation, the man created a multi-layered money laundering scheme. Fictitious contracts between affiliated companies and multiple transfers of funds between bank accounts were used.
In addition, the man registered the limited liability partnership Zeus Co, formally operating in the field of software development. Through inflated contracts with affiliated companies, 2.5 billion tenge was received into the accounts of Zeus Co, of which 2.2 billion tenge was transferred to him as dividends. The total amount of laundered funds exceeds 5 billion tenge.
SEIZURE AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES
With court approval, a seizure has been imposed on movable and immovable property, shares in authorised capital, and jewellery valued at 8.9 billion tenge. Among the seized property:
- 4 apartments and 2 residential houses in the capital;
- 4 apartments in the UAE;
- 6 cars, including a Lexus LX 600, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Mercedes-Benz G63, Bentley Bentayga V8, Land Rover Range Rover Sport;
- cash in deposits — 2.7 billion tenge.
The man has been taken into custody, while four accomplices have been released on a written undertaking not to leave the place of residence and to behave appropriately.