Former Justice Minister Beketayev Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison

Former Minister of Justice of Kazakhstan Marat Beketayev has been sentenced to nine years in prison with confiscation of property, Orda.kz reports.

The announcement was made at a briefing by Daniyar Bigaydarov, the official representative of the Anti-Corruption Service.

The ex-minister was found guilty of fraud, embezzlement on an especially large scale, and illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity.

However, specifics of the case remain undisclosed due to its classified status.

Due to the fact that the investigation was conducted under the classification of confidential, all the materials of the case and the circumstances of the crime are not subject to disclosure. Therefore, I cannot fully answer this question,
said Daniyar Bigaydarov.

Beketayev was detained in October 2023 while attempting to flee the country. According to investigators, individuals from a private company were also involved, allegedly part of the same corruption schemes.

Together with former Almaty Mayor Baurzhan Baibek, Beketayev co-managed the Bolashak Consulting Group, which officially represented Kazakhstan’s interests in the high-profile legal dispute with Moldovan businessmen Anatolie and Gabriel Stati.

According to MP Azat Peruashev, the company received $60 million annually for this role.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov