The inter-district criminal court of Shymkent has passed sentence on the former head of the Department of Digitalisation, Public Services and Archives of the Turkestan Region, Makzhan Myrzaseitov, the former head of the Akim's office in the Otyrar district, Aidos Maulen, the former director of the information centre of the Tolebi district akimat, Almas Zholseitov, and the businessman Erkin Isakov.
As reported by Ratel.kz, the officials were accused of accepting bribes, and the businessman of repeatedly offering bribes. In addition, Almas Zholseitov was charged with fraud using his official position and complicity in offering a bribe.
According to the investigation, from 2022 to 2023, competitions were held in Shymkent and the Turkestan Region for the provision of digital support services for district and city akimats.
It emerged that Erkin Isakov's company won tenders for the administration and maintenance of software services worth approximately 50 million tenge. According to the investigation, to achieve this he had to bribe Makzhan Myrzaseitov, who was the administrator overseeing these programmes. For his services, Myrzaseitov received more than 12 million tenge.
Isakov's firm also won subsequent tenders for similar state contracts in the district akimats. However, in the Otyrar and Tolebi districts, the businessman also had to bribe local officials Aidos Maulen and Almas Zholseitov.
During the investigation, Myrzaseitov did not admit his guilt, claiming that he and Isakov were linked only by a friendly relationship. According to him, Isakov's company repeatedly won tenders, but this was because the company was very reliable. The official also stated that he supposedly sold computers and other office equipment to the businessman, for which he received money.
Ultimately, the court sentenced businessman Isakov to 7 years in prison, Myrzaseitov to 8 years in prison, and Zholseitov to 4 years in prison. It is noted that during the investigation and trial, one of the accused, Aidos Maulen, died suddenly.