Astana Court Opens Debate on Aibek Kospayev’s Criminal Case

The Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court of Astana has started debates in the case of Aibek Kospayev, the brother of Yeldos Kospayev, Orda.kz reports.

Yeldos has been described as the "right hand" of Bolat Nazarbayev. Aibek faces charges of raiding, extortion, and money laundering. 

At the request of the defendant and his legal team, Judge Sayat Tashimbayev prohibited the Orda.kz correspondent from taking video or photographs during the courtroom proceedings.

Prosecutor Aktore Berikov requested that Aibek Kospayev be found guilty under several articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan:

• Art. 262, Part 2 — “Participation in an organized group or criminal organization”
• Art. 249, Part 3, Item 1 — “Raiding”
• Art. 218, Part 3, Paragraphs 2) and 3) — “Legalization (laundering) of money and (or) other property obtained by criminal means”
• Art. 189, Part 4, Paragraphs 1) and 2) — “Misappropriation or embezzlement of entrusted property”
• Art. 214, Part 2, Clause 1) — “Illegal entrepreneurship, illegal banking, microfinance or collection activities”
• Art. 233, Part 2 — “Manufacture or acquisition for the purpose of sale, as well as the use or sale of knowingly counterfeit means of identification and (or) control marks”
• Art. 194, Part 4, Paragraphs 1) and 2) — “Extortion"

For all the offenses except extortion, the prosecution requested various prison terms ranging from one to eight years, with or without property confiscation. For Article 233, Part 2, the prosecutor additionally sought a lifelong ban on holding management positions in commercial organizations.

Extortion under Article 194, Part 4, Paragraphs 1) and 2) was regarded as the most severe charge.

The prosecutor requested a 10-year prison sentence with property confiscation for this offense.

In accordance with Article 58, Part 3, for the aggregate of criminal offenses, by partial addition of sentences, finally sentence Aidos Kospayev to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property, with lifelong deprivation of the right to hold leadership positions in commercial organizations,
said prosecutor Aktore Berikov. 

According to the prosecutor, the total material damage in the case is estimated at 10 billion tenge.

Aibek Kospayev is the third brother from the family who may face imprisonment. Previously, his brother Yeldos Kospayev, known as the Ludayed (The Man-eater - Ed.), was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while another brother, Aidos Kospayev, received a 12-year sentence.

The organized crime group associated with the Kospayevs operated extensively. The group allegedly used violence and intimidation to seize shares in companies and expropriate property from entrepreneurs, while also engaging in illicit business activities.

Authorities confiscated assets obtained through criminal means, including 133 real estate properties, 11 land plots, 35 luxury cars, and nine million dollars in cash.

The investigation also revealed that Yeldos and Aibek Kospayev, along with Bolat Nazarbayev’s daughter, Kunduz, were listed among the founders of AV Construction. On October 18, 2017, ownership of the construction company was transferred to Kunduz Nazarbayeva and Yeldos Kospayev.

During court proceedings, Aibek Kospayev denied guilt, stating that he was not part of any gang with his brothers Yeldos and Aidos, and that such a criminal group did not exist.

The court debate is ongoing, with statements from the defendant and his defense expected soon.

Orda.kz continues to monitor the case.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya