An investigation into a criminal case concerning the illegal attraction of citizens' funds for shared-equity construction has been completed in Astana, and the case has been sent to court.
According to the press service of the capital's prosecutor's office, a group of people is suspected of causing particularly large-scale damage amounting to 4.6 billion tenge. More than 400 families have been recognised as victims.
The investigation established that the organisers of the fraudulent scheme, lacking the necessary permits, attracted citizens' money for the construction of three residential complexes.
It is reported that they used the funds received for purposes other than intended, and did not carry out the construction of the properties at all.
"The capital's prosecutor's office urges citizens, before buying an apartment, to carefully check for a permit to attract funds from equity holders. This will help avoid fraud and protect your rights," the statement reads.
Earlier, it was reported that in Aktau a local resident was sentenced for embezzling 70 million tenge from equity holders of the Mizam residential complex. It was noted that he posed as the head of the housing construction cooperative (HCC) "SK 2032" and concluded nine contracts with equity holders for the sale of property in the under-construction residential complex.