The Anti-Corruption Service has published the results of its work to suppress systemic corruption and organised criminal groups.
According to the agency's press service, this year the Anti-Corruption body identified 49 instances of systemic corruption and exposed 212 individuals. It reports the conclusion of the investigation into the chairman of the fire service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the heads of the Department of Emergency Situations of Shymkent and the Zhetysu region.
Officials are suspected of receiving bribes from entrepreneurs totalling more than 40 million tenge. The investigating court has sanctioned a pre-trial restriction in the form of detention for the suspects.
Meanwhile, in the Pavlodar region, anti-corruption fighters have completed a pre-trial investigation into the criminal case against the management of the state forest nature reserve "Ertis Ormany".
The suspects are accused of creating and participating in an organised criminal group (OCG), whose activities are linked to the embezzlement of budget funds and abuse of official powers.
"The organised criminal group, led by the general director of the state forest nature reserve 'Ertis Ormany', on the territory of the Shcherbakty district between April 2022 and December 2023, through the illegal sale of commercial timber under the guise of technological and fuel firewood, stole forest amounting to approximately 153 million tenge", the statement says.
Members of the criminal group were placed in custody by court order. It is noted that for similar crimes, the management of "Semey Ormany" was previously convicted.
Furthermore, in the Turkestan region, the Anti-Corruption body suppressed the activities of an OCG involved in corruption in the education sector.
"A pre-trial investigation is being conducted against officials of the education department of the Shardara district regarding the creation of an organised criminal group and participation in it for the purpose of embezzling budget funds", the statement says.
The criminal group, which consists of 12 participants, is suspected of embezzling budget funds. It is reported that from 2020 to 2023, they transferred salaries to individuals who did not actually work in the education sector, as well as to their own personal accounts. As a result, the state suffered damage amounting to 3.7 billion tenge.
It is also noted that in the Zhetysu region, the Anti-Corruption body completed an investigation into officials of the education department of Taldykorgan. They are accused of creating an OCG for the purpose of embezzling budget funds.
"The OCG engaged in illegal activities on the territory of Taldykorgan city between January 2020 and March 2023 and consisted of 13 participants. They systematically committed the embezzlement of budget funds by transferring salaries to individuals who did not actually work in the education sector, as well as to their own personal accounts", the agency reported.
As a result of the criminal actions, the state suffered damage amounting to 4.3 billion tenge. The criminal case has currently been sent to court.
Among other things, the Anti-Corruption body reported on the sentence against members of an OCG – employees of the capital's Specialised Public Service Centre, police officers, and civilians who were illegally registering more than 460 vehicles.
As a result, 12 individuals were deprived of their liberty for terms ranging from 3.5 to 9 years, and three received a restriction of liberty for 2.5 years. The total damage to the state amounted to 1.2 billion tenge.