A video is circulating on social media in which a man, introduced as Turlikhan Turarbek — the son of the former akim of Taldykorgan, Dastan Shaltabayev — confirms instances of fraud. The authenticity of the recording, as well as the procedural status of the individuals appearing in it, have not been officially confirmed at this time.
The recording was published in the Telegram channel "Kozachkov offside". In the video, a voice is heard off-camera, which presumably belongs to a law enforcement officer. He asks questions about receiving money not as a loan, but for promised services.
"Do you confirm the fact of fraud? Did you take the money? Not as a loan, correct?" — asks the voice off-camera.
In response to a clarifying question about what exactly was promised, Turarbek replies: "two iPhone Pro and two Pro Max". Then the interlocutor asks another question:
"The second instance, where did you take the money?"
To this, the young man replies:
"The second instance — I promised to help with tax matters. I took 5 million tenge."
For context, in March 2019, Turlikhan Turarbek had already attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies. At the time, police in Almaty stopped a car registered in his name. Upon inspection, the following items were found in the vehicle: a traumatic weapon; ammunition; stacks of banknotes in denominations of $100, not intended for circulation; two sets of state license plates registered to other vehicles; and a two-way radio.
It was also reported at the time that Turarbek himself was attending classes at the university. Following the investigation, he was not held accountable, and no violations of the law on the part of his father — then akim of Taldykorgan — were established either.