Hidden Camera in Office: Official Accuses Shalkar District Akim of Bribery

A corruption case is under review at the Shalkar District Court, where Shuga Saduakassova, head of the district’s architecture, urban planning, and construction department, stands accused of extorting and receiving bribes from contractors, Orda.kz reports.

Investigators say there were two episodes: Saduakassova allegedly demanded five million tenge from the director of Daneker LLP for signing completion certificates, and later received eight million tenge from Asia Stroy Proekt 777 LLP.

The funds were transferred in installments to private accounts via Kaspi.

In court, however, Saduakassova testified that she acted on the instructions of District Akim Zhanbolat Zhidekhanov. She claimed that Zhidekhanov personally demanded money from contractors and even collected part of it himself.

He said, ‘Don’t be afraid, don’t say anything, I’ll get it myself.’ In October 2024, he summoned me and asked me to bring the money urgently. When I said I didn’t have the funds, I gave him my 700,000 tenge. Later, transfers began arriving through my friend in Aqtobe — a total of about 12.5 million tenge. Zhidekhanov collected some of the money personally,the defendant said. 

A transcript of her conversation with the Akim was read aloud in court, with experts confirming its authenticity. Covert video recordings were also made in the Akimat offices.

The defense is demanding that Akim Zhanbolat Zhidekhanov be summoned to testify.

Original Author: Ardaq Yerubay