A sentence has been handed down in Astana to the former head of the city's cultural department, Bolat Mazhagulov, and a representative of the contracting organisation, Madi Kanapin.
According to the publication "Diapazon", they were found guilty of embezzling over 1 billion tenge during the construction of the "Sun" fountain ("Light illumination and fire show on the Esil River"), which has been in a state of disrepair since 2017.
The fountain was built without design and estimate documentation or state expert examination, and substandard materials that did not meet technical specifications were used in its construction.
It is noted that before the verdict was handed down, Mazhagulov claimed on his Instagram page that 90% of his lawyers' motions were rejected by the court.
"The motions filed by the prosecution were upheld. As a result, my right to prove that I did not commit the acts with which I am charged, and the very opportunity to show the real picture of the situation regarding the construction of the 'Sun' fountain, were significantly limited," the statement reads.
On 31 January, Bolat Mazhagulov was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison. Madi Kanapin was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. At the same time, the court granted the claim to recover damages from the convicted individuals to the state.
It should be recalled that the trial of Mazhagulov and Kanapin began in December 2024. As part of the case, an attachment was imposed on the property of Bolat Mazhagulov, consisting of three commercial premises, two parking spaces, and a premium-class apartment in Astana.
In September, following the news of Mazhagulov's arrest, a member of the Astana public council, Kanat Alin, proposed demolishing the "Sun" fountain. Alin recounted how, during the fountain's construction, he repeatedly informed the akimat that it was being built with violations.
In turn, the deputy head of the Astana Department of Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management, Samat Abdullin, stated that the fountain could not be demolished in the near future as it constitutes material evidence in the criminal case.
Earlier this year, it became known that Mazhagulov denies guilt in the embezzlement. As reported, he believes the media are spreading inaccurate information that benefits the investigation. At the same time, he refuted the prosecution's claim that the installation of the fountain was his initiative.