Information is circulating online that the head of the financial management department of the Shymkent police department and a senior police lieutenant may be involved in the embezzlement of 370 million tenge.
According to Ulysmedia.kz, the Ministry of Internal Affairs commented that a criminal case has been opened regarding this matter, but did not clarify whether the police officers were actually detained.
"On the instruction of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Department of Internal Security has initiated an official investigation, based on the results of which strict measures will be taken and those responsible will be punished in accordance with the law. The Ministry of Internal Affairs holds a principled position of zero tolerance for any offences," said a statement from the Ministry's press service.
Earlier, it was reported that from January to July of this year, 95 police officers were convicted in corruption cases. In 80% of cases, sentences were handed down for articles including "Bribery" and "Fraud."
For example, at the beginning of August, a former head and inspector of the Migration Service Department (UMS), as well as a former inspector of the Auezov district police department in the Abai region, were convicted of corruption.
According to the investigation, the head of the department received a bribe from a police officer in exchange for a transfer, acting through an intermediary – an inspector of the UMS. The bribe amount was $1,000 (476,890 tenge).
In June, the commander of the 8th company of the Shymkent patrol police regiment, Azamat Aimbetov, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for receiving a large bribe through extortion.
In April, the head of the migration department of the Shymkent police department, Sungat Tugelbayev, was sentenced for receiving bribes amounting to $8,000. The former head received the bribes in exchange for issuing residency permits and granting citizenship to foreigners. Along with the police officer, the intermediary Akmaraal Soyirkaz was also convicted.