Details Emerge in Corruption Case Involving Former Vice Ministers and Credit Bureau Head

Details have emerged in a corruption investigation involving former high-level officials and the head of a major financial institution, Orda.kz reports.

Earlier, we reported that Akmadi Sarbasov, head of the Center for the Development of Labor Resources (CRTR) and former Vice Minister of Labor, was under investigation in a corruption case. The Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) has now provided additional information, confirming that Sarbasov is not the only one involved.

Also under investigation are Daulet Argyndykov, Sarbasov’s predecessor at the CRTR and a former deputy health minister, as well as Ruslan Omarov, the head of the First Credit Bureau.

It was established that the management of First Credit Bureau LLC systematically transferred illegal remuneration to the management of the Center for the Development of Labor Resources JSC for lobbying interests in the provision of information services necessary for processing requests from financial organizations,  the Financial Monitoring Agency reported.

According to the agency, Omarov, Sarbasov, and Argyndykov were detained on June 28 while handing over a bribe of $75,000.

During searches at the place of residence of the detainees, cash in the amount of 370 thousand US dollars and 4.5 million tenge was seized,the FMA added.

Authorities say the three have been in custody since May 30, pending further investigation.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin