Ex-Financial Police Officers Sentenced for Torturing Defendants in the Khorgos Case

The Almaty Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court (SMUS) has sentenced former Financial Police officers Kenzhebay Zhumabekov and Dauren Yesimbekov, Orda.kz reports.

The closed trial, which began in June, concerned allegations that the two officers had tortured defendants in the high-profile “Khorgos Case No. 1.” Among the victims were Ruslan Sydykov, Nurlan Sarymbetov, and Nurbek Muratbekov, who in 2024 told Orda.kz how they were detained by Financial Police officers in 2011 and repeatedly assaulted.

A criminal case into the torture of former customs brokers was launched in 2023, after which Zhumabekov was placed in pretrial detention, and Yesimbekov placed under travel restrictions.

The court found both men guilty:

• Kenzhebay Zhumabekov was sentenced to six years in prison
  
• Dauren Yesimbekov received four years

Both were also ordered to pay five million tenge each in compensation to the victims.

In early September, Orda.kz reported that former Prosecutor General Kairat Kozhamzharov had also come under investigation on charges of abuse of office and money laundering.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin