In Shymkent, an investigation into a criminal case concerning the embezzlement of budget funds allocated for a state programme to establish intensive apple orchards has been completed. The suspect in the case has been placed in custody, and the materials have been sent to court.
WHAT THE INVESTIGATION ESTABLISHED
According to the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM), project financing was carried out through JSC 'Agricultural Financial Support Fund' as part of the 'Turnkey Intensive Apple Orchard Establishment' programme. The programme provided for agricultural plots with ready-made infrastructure to be leased to entrepreneurs.
According to the investigation, the former chairman of the Fund's board, Omarov Zh.D., organised a scheme to embezzle state funds involving affiliated persons and controlled organisations, including LLP 'Green Mart Kazakhstan'.
HOW THE PROCUREMENTS WERE CONDUCTED
The investigation indicates that procurement of goods and works was carried out with violations — predominantly using the single-source method, without a competitive environment. The cost of equipment, materials, and construction and installation work is alleged to have been artificially inflated, while some work was not actually performed.
Despite this, fictitious acceptance certificates were drawn up, on the basis of which budget funds were transferred.
WHAT DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE STATE
As a result, according to the investigation, the state suffered damage amounting to over 430 million tenge.
Additionally, instances of illegally obtaining investment subsidies in the agro-industrial complex were uncovered. To facilitate this, agricultural cooperatives were created through which applications for subsidies were submitted, ostensibly for the development of orchards and cost reimbursement.
Over 327 million tenge was transferred to the accounts of such entities; however, it is specified that only about 20% of the funds were actually directed towards the stated purposes. The remainder — over 250 million tenge — was cashed out through trusted individuals and used for unintended purposes.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
By court order, land plots totalling 108 hectares with a value of over 1 billion tenge have been seized.
The suspect, Omarov Zh.D., has been placed in custody. The criminal case has been sent to court.
RELATED VERDICTS
As noted by the agency, earlier in this case the former managing director of the Fund, Iskakov M.K., and the head of LLP 'Green Mart Kazakhstan', Sazynbek R.B., were already convicted. The court sentenced them to 8 years in prison with the confiscation of four cars.