In Khromtau, Aktobe region, the 75-year-old head of Tulpar TK LLP, Myktybek Ismagambetov, was convicted for the breach of a dam during the floods in the spring of last year. He was found guilty of negligence in his duties.
According to the local publication "Diapazon", after the structure breached, water flooded the villages of Tabantal, Kyzyltu and Beskopa, from which 215 people were evacuated. The cost of restoration work on the dam was estimated at 200 million tenge.
In court, residents of the village of Beskopa affected by the flood stated that the deluge damaged electricity transmission line poles, building materials, and livestock feed. Additionally, domestic poultry perished. The villagers requested compensation for their material losses.
Furthermore, a representative of Energosystem LLP noted that the incoming water caused a power outage on a transmission line and damaged its supports. The company estimated the cost of emergency restoration work at more than 2 million tenge.
The defendant, for his part, did not admit guilt, claiming he had taken all measures to maintain the dam in working order.
According to him, the dam had long needed major repairs, and he had notified the regional department of natural resources about this. Myktybek Ismagambetov also stated that he had raised with the dam's owner the need to legalise all title documents for the structure.
The court established that the defendant was aware of the threat of a dam breach but failed to take proper measures to release the water, restricting himself to using only one sluice gate with low capacity.
In addition, the court noted that the defendant, motivated by commercial gain, did not wish to lose the fish he had farmed. Consequently, he did not carry out a timely discharge of water, which led to serious consequences.
The court found the businessman guilty and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months of restriction of liberty. At the same time, the convicted man was ordered to compensate the material damage caused to Energosystem LLP and to the owners of the farms affected by the flood. The claim from the akimat (local administration) demanding compensation for the cost of emergency restoration work will be heard in the civil court.