A court in Turkestan found former deputy akim of Sayram district Shukhratulla Ubaidullayev and head of the land relations department Amangeldy Zhunisbekov guilty of giving and receiving bribes. They were fined 56.25 million tenge and 74.6 million tenge respectively, and were also banned for life from holding positions in the civil service.
HOW THE DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS BEGAN
According to Hronika.kz, on 1 October 2025 the prosecutor's office of Turkestan region checked compliance with land and architectural-construction legislation during the provision of plots in the period from 2023 to 2025. The check revealed violations.
Ubaidullayev, Zhunisbekov, as well as ten more akims of rural districts and heads of district departments were held liable. The materials were sent to the akimat of Turkestan region to decide on disciplinary penalties.
On 21 November 2025, the chairman of the Ethics Council and a representative of the regional department of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs Abylaikhan Nauryzbayev issued orders to initiate disciplinary proceedings and conduct internal investigations.
HOW COLLEAGUES RAISED 3 MILLION TENGE
According to case materials, in February 2026 Ubaidullayev and Zhunisbekov instructed other officials to collect money in order to influence the decision on the disciplinary cases. The total amount collected was 3 million tenge.
On the morning of 13 March 2026, Zhunisbekov attempted to hand over the money to the deputy head of the department of the regional department of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs Ruslan Madibekov for a favourable resolution of the disciplinary matter. He refused the bribe.
On the same day at around 13:40, Zhunisbekov was detained on the Turkestan — Shymkent motorway by officers of the regional department of the National Security Committee (NSC). During a search, 2,258,000 tenge in cash was seized from him.
HOW A LAND PLOT CAME INTO THE CASE
The investigation also established an episode related to changing the designated purpose of land. In June 2025, a resident of Sayram district approached Ubaidullayev with a request to transfer a plot from the agricultural land category for the construction of a livestock feeding lot.
The applicant offered the deputy akim 650,000 tenge. Ubaidullayev brought in Zhunisbekov to resolve the matter, after which both received a bribe.
WHAT PUNISHMENTS THE COURT IMPOSED
The court found both officials guilty of giving and receiving bribes. Based on the aggregate of the offences, they were fined with the application of the absorption of penalties.
Shukhratulla Ubaidullayev must pay 56,250,000 tenge, and Amangeldy Zhunisbekov — 74,604,250 tenge. Both have also been deprived for life of the right to hold positions in the civil service.
The verdict has not entered into legal force.
