The court of first instance in Dubai sentenced 22-year-old Kazakh citizen Yernur Almakhan to life imprisonment and a fine of 2.5 million dirhams (over 300 million tenge). The circumstances of the criminal case and the charge are not officially disclosed.
WHAT IS KNOWN
According to ORDA, Yernur Almakhan went to the UAE for work in September 2024. After arriving, he worked as a taxi driver and regularly kept in touch with his family.
According to relatives, the last conversation took place before the start of 2025. Later, he told his family that he had become a suspect in a criminal case, declared his innocence, and said he expected to be released.
WHAT SENTENCE WAS PASSED
On 18 March, the UAE court of first instance handed down a life sentence, but the convicted man's family only learned of the verdict in April 2026.
In addition, he was ordered to pay a fine of 2.54 million dirhams.
WHAT THE KAZAKH FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MFA RK) stated that an appeal against the court's decision was filed on 1 April 2026. The review of the case is scheduled for 27 April.
The ministry reported that the judicial process is ongoing and the verdict has not yet entered into legal force. The question of transferring the convicted person to Kazakhstan can only be considered after all judicial procedures have been completed.
The ministry also sent an official request to the UAE authorities to clarify the circumstances of the case.
POSITION OF THE FAMILY AND DEFENCE
The convicted man's mother, Nurgul Almakhanova, stated that she does not believe in her son's guilt and considers the charges unfair.
Lawyer Inga Imanbay, representing the family's interests, said that the relatives are seeking full legal protection for the Kazakh citizen and clarification of all the circumstances of the case. According to her, the family does not know under which specific article the life sentence was passed.
THE VERDICT IS NOT YET FINAL
Since the verdict has not yet entered into legal force, the further development of the case depends on the outcome of the appeal. Following the hearing, the decision of the court of first instance may be upheld or revised.
WHAT OTHER MEDIA ARE REPORTING
A number of media outlets report that the case may be linked to an armed attack on a villa belonging to the co-founder of the Finiko financial pyramid, Eduard Sabirov, in January 2025. This information has not been officially confirmed, and the details of the charges are not disclosed in the case materials.