Appeal Withdrawn in Alina Serikova Case, Sentences Remain Unchanged

The individuals convicted in one of the Mangystau region’s most widely followed criminal cases — related to the abduction and assault of 29-year-old Alina Serikova — sought to appeal their verdict before the Supreme Court, Orda.kz reports.

However, the cassation appeal was not reviewed. According to the Supreme Court’s press service, the attorney for one of the defendants withdrew the petition, and the judicial panel returned the case materials without further consideration.

As a result, the sentences issued by the lower courts remain in effect.

The case involved five residents of Mangystau who were sentenced in May 2024 for kidnapping and assaulting Serikova. The athlete and fitness trainer was abducted in the evening as she returned home.

The group, reportedly under the influence of mephedrone, subjected her to physical and sexual abuse and humiliation. She was later coerced into taking out an online loan for two million tenge before being released.

A few days later, Serikova died by suicide, jumping from the ninth floor of a building.

In December 2024, the specialized inter-district criminal court sentenced the main defendant, Nurgeldy Seitkaliyev, to 20 years in prison. Co-defendants Merey Aralbay and Zhalgas Usengaliyev received eight years, while Yerkebulan Amankos and Darkhan Kulbas were sentenced to seven years each.

Following a public appeal from Serikova’s family, the Mangystau Regional Court reconsidered the case and issued tougher sentences.

Seitkaliyev was given a life sentence, and the others received terms ranging from 13 to 16 years. The court also ordered the defendants to pay 27 million tenge in compensation to Serikova’s brother.
 
Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva