Businessman Tried to "Push Through" Astana Boiler House Project with a Bribe

A court in Astana has convicted three individuals in a high-profile bribery case involving the reconstruction of boiler houses, Orda.kz reports.

In the fall of 2024, the founder of a private company attempted to secure a favorable state review for a major infrastructure project titled "Reconstruction of 21 Boiler Houses."

To obtain official approval, he offered a bribe totaling 73.5 million tenge. A portion of the bribe — 12.2 million tenge — was passed through a middleman to a government official, who headed a branch of a state-owned enterprise. 

However, the scheme was uncovered by law enforcement before the deal could be completed.

Despite pleading not guilty and requesting acquittal, all three defendants were convicted. The businessman was sentenced to eight years in prison, the government official received 11 years, and the intermediary was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

The court’s ruling has not yet come into legal effect.

Original Author: Zarina Faizulina