(23 February | Source: Hronika.kz)
In Shymkent, the criminal case against three men, whom the court found guilty of fraud, has concluded. According to the case materials, they visited shops after the legal time for selling alcohol and demanded money from sellers, posing as inspection officials.
HOW THE GROUP OPERATED
According to the case files, in November last year, three men arrived in Shymkent — a 40-year-old resident of Almaty, his 19-year-old son, and another 46-year-old man from Zhanaozen, reports Hronika.kz.
The group visited small shops in residential areas of the city after 10:00 PM and bought strong alcohol. After the purchase, they told the sellers they were conducting a raid to identify illegal trade in alcoholic products, which are banned from sale after 9:00 PM.
The youngest member was dressed in camouflage uniform and presented an ID card with the state emblem. The sellers were informed of a potential fine of 200,000 tenge, with an offer to settle the matter for 15,000–20,000 tenge.
According to the investigation, money was obtained in this way from two shops. In the third instance, the seller contacted the police, after which a criminal case was opened. The materials note that there may have been more potential victims, but they could not be identified.
POSITION OF THE DEFENDANTS
The 19-year-old participant was additionally charged under Article 390, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Unauthorised assumption of the title of a representative of authority").
In court, all three pleaded guilty. The young man explained that he bought the ID card from a stationery shop and inserted his own photo into it.
During the investigation, the accused compensated the victims for damages and reconciled with them.
Court Decision
The court took into account the admission of guilt and remorse.
The 19-year-old son was sentenced to 1 year of restriction of liberty.
His father, previously convicted of a similar crime and recognised as a repeat offender, received 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment, to be served in a maximum-security facility.
The criminal case against the third participant was dismissed, and he was released from criminal liability.
The verdict has not yet come into legal force.