(8 January 2026 | Source: Telegram channel 'HALYQSTAN')
Courts in the Aktobe region have upheld the legality of sacking a police officer who was present when a bribe was taken by a colleague and did not report it to management. Although the criminal case against him was dropped due to lack of evidence, the courts deemed his behaviour a misconduct that discredits law enforcement agencies.
HOW THE INCIDENT OCCURRED
According to case materials, while patrolling the Aktobe–Astrakhan highway, two traffic police officers — D. and M. — stopped a Hyundai Accent driven by a young woman. The inspectors suspected the driver might be under the influence of alcohol.
However, instead of sending the woman for a medical examination and drawing up administrative paperwork, officer D.'s colleague demanded a bribe from her to 'sort things out'. Subsequently, both police officers were arrested.
COURT RULINGS AND THE PLAINTIFF'S POSITION
The court found one of the officers guilty of taking a bribe. The second officer — D. — did not face criminal liability, but was dismissed from service by order of the Aktobe region police department on discreditory grounds.
The former inspector disagreed with this decision and appealed to the court. He sought to have the order declared unlawful, be reinstated in his post, recover 1.2 million tenge in salary for the period of forced absence, and 500,000 tenge in moral damages. He based his claims on the fact that the criminal case against him had been dropped for lack of evidence.
WHY THE COURT REFUSED REINSTATEMENT
The courts of first instance and appeal refused to satisfy the claim. The rulings state that police officers, as representatives of authority, must remain loyal to their oath and bear heightened responsibility to society and the state.
During the proceedings, the court established that D., being the senior officer on duty and present during discussions about handing over the bribe, not only failed to stop his colleague's illegal actions but actually facilitated their concealment. He did not report the incident to management or to law enforcement agencies.
On this basis, the court concluded that the plaintiff's actions amounted to misconduct discrediting law enforcement agencies, for which legislation provides for dismissal from internal affairs bodies on negative grounds. The decision to dismiss was deemed lawful.
SIMILAR CASES IN OTHER REGIONS
Earlier, attention was drawn to the topic of disciplinary and criminal liability of police officers by another case. On 6 January, Azh.kz reported that in the Atyrau region, two police officers became subjects of a pre-trial investigation in a bribery case following a complaint from a resident of the Makat district.
According to the publication, the man claimed he paid 300,000 tenge to avoid administrative liability for driving under the influence of alcohol. Following an internal investigation, both officers were dismissed from internal affairs bodies on negative grounds.