Kazakh Lawmakers Call for Renewed Investigation Into EXPO-2017 Corruption Case

The high-profile EXPO-2017 embezzlement case, which drew significant public attention in 2016, is back in the spotlight, Orda.kz reports.

Members of the Majilis are now calling on the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Anti-Corruption Agency to reexamine the case and identify those truly responsible.

Their demands follow an interview published by the media featuring Murat Omarov, former deputy head of the national company Astana EXPO-2017. In it, Omarov alleges that the criminal case against him and others was fabricated, and that the real culprits escaped accountability.

Majilis deputy Yermurat Bapi formally requested that law enforcement reopen the investigation.

After accusations of ‘fabricated’ criminal cases discrediting the activities of law enforcement agencies and related to the persecution of citizens appeared in society, and against this background doubts arose about the actions of the authorized bodies, I held several meetings with the author of the interview, Murat Omarov, and the lawyers involved in the case to clarify the facts presented in the interview. I also familiarized myself with the key points of the 500-volume criminal case,
said Bapi. 

He called on prosecutors to clarify several unresolved issues, including:

• Who was the "adviser" appointed by the country's leadership to assist the board's chair, and who allegedly "repeatedly received bribes in a Chinese bag?"
  
• Why, even though his name was mentioned by the accused and his interrogation was requested, did he remain an “unidentified person” and was removed from the list of defendants?
  
• Why was the name of the “unidentified person” who received illegal remuneration removed from the indictment and court materials, and Talgat Ermegiyaev was convicted instead without sufficient evidence?
  
• Who is the "trusted representative" who gave the bribe, on whose testimony 23 people were held liable? 
• Why was his identity not established during the investigation and trial?
• The recipient is known, but what about the bribe giver?
  
• Why, during the investigation and trial, was the fact ignored that the management of the company "Rona," which developed the feasibility study for the construction of EXPO, transferred the funds received to offshore companies?

In response, the Prosecutor General’s Office stated that the Anti-Corruption Agency is conducting an ongoing investigation into the transfer of EXPO funds abroad.

The Anti-Corruption Service is investigating a criminal case against unidentified persons regarding the theft of EXPO funds. As part of the investigation, comprehensive operational and investigative measures are being carried out to identify all persons involved, including those involved in the transfer of funds abroad through offshore companies,
the supervisory authority noted. 

However, regarding the other allegations raised by Bapi, the prosecutors found no grounds to reopen the original investigation, maintaining that all convictions were lawful.

In 2016, 23 individuals were sentenced for the embezzlement of funds from Astana EXPO-2017. Talgat Yermegiyayev, then chair of the organizing committee, was found guilty of receiving a 780 million tenge bribe in connection with a state contract awarded to Rona LTD. 

Over 10 billion tenge in public funds were reported stolen by the group.

Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva