Former Turkistan Education Department Head Appeals Fraud Conviction

The Shymkent City Court has begun hearing the appeal of Galymzhan Zhumashev, former head of the Turkistan Region Education Department. He was previously sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for fraud and money laundering, Orda.kz reports.

According to the regional television channel Otyrar, Zhumashev maintains his innocence and is demanding a full acquittal.

The court dismissed 12 of the 14 charges. It was found that some witnesses had given false testimony. Why they then retained two counts is unclear. I am seeking a full acquittal,
 Zhumashev stated at the meeting.

Investigators allege that Zhumashev received 67 million tenge from businesswoman Elmira Dyusenkyzy, supposedly to open private schools, and then laundered the funds through the purchase of land.

The convicted official insists that the money was not a bribe, but rather a repayment of a personal debt.

We were like a family for 17 years. Elmira officially repaid me the debt. The judge didn’t even accept the written confirmation. Now they’re demanding 60 million from me. It’s unfair,
 Zhumashev said.

He also told the court that he had planned to leave the country and change his citizenship, openly admitting this during the hearing.

The second defendant, former Taraz prosecutor Nursultan Teleshev, has also filed an appeal.

He was convicted of fraud and sentenced to four years of restricted freedom, which was later reduced to two years and eight months under amnesty. Teleshev is now requesting a retrial.

The high-profile fraud case involving former officials concluded in July. The prosecutor’s office had sought a 10-year prison sentence with confiscation of property for Zhumashev. He is the father of six minor children and previously held senior positions in the education system, including roles at the Ministry of Education and the Presidential Administration.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov