Forensics Expert From Bishimbayev Trial Involved in Yerbayan Mukhtar's Case

Orda.kz reports that Yerbayan Mukhtar's family had requested that Takhir Khalimnazarov be brought in on the case.

Inga Imanbay, representing the interests of Mukhtar Yerbayan's family, spoke about the investigation's progress.

The human rights activist expressed dissatisfaction that the case was not progressing. She claims the investigator has stopped answering phone calls.

Almost a year has passed since the incident, but the investigation has still not moved forward. In the fifth month of my participation in the case as a defense attorney, investigator Ualikhan Kydyrbay has not carried out any investigative actions other than a forensic medical examination. He has not familiarized us with photographs, videos or case materials. When we try to contact him to get answers to questions that have arisen, he does not answer phone calls. It is impossible to find out whether the forensic medical examination report is ready and what other circumstances have been established,she wrote. 

The human rights activist plans to file a complaint with the Prosecutor General’s Office to “legally assess the investigator’s actions and obtain information about the stage of the criminal investigation.”

The lawyer had already sent inquiries to the military prosecutor's office.

In September, she received a response that the Southern Regional Military Investigative Directorate was conducting an investigation under Part 3 of Article 440 of the Criminal Code, "Violation of Statutory Regulations of Relations Between Military Personnel in The Absence of Subordination Relations between Them, Resulting in Severe Harm to Health."

 A comprehensive forensic medical criminalistic examination was appointed for the case. At the request of the Yerbayan family, Takhir Khalimnazarov was included in the expert commission. Khalimnazarov examined and provided a forensic conclusion on the causes of Saltanat Nukenova's injuries in the trial of Kuandyk Bishimbayev.

As part of the investigation, the quality of medical care provided to Y. Mukhtar at the Central Clinical Hospital No. 12 is also being inspected, which is being carried out by the Almaty City Department of Medical and Pharmaceutical Control of the Ministry of Health,  the military prosecutor's office noted.

The human rights activist also asked the department whether an investigation would be conducted into torture, intentional harm to health, and extortion.

At the moment, there are insufficient grounds to initiate an additional pre-trial investigation under the articles on torture, intentional harm to life, and extortion. 

Orda.kz's editorial board has also sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Yerbayan Mukhtar sustained injuries in a National Guard military unit last December. The command personnel stated that he fell in a restroom. His family does not believe this version.

Yerbayan is currently receiving treatment in Türkiye. Inga Imanbay says the doctors have given optimistic prognoses and hope to get him back on his feet.

Original Author: Aliya Askarova