Kazakhstan Tightens Laws: Droppers and Bride Kidnappers Now Face Prison
Photo: Dall-E, illustrative purposes
Two new articles of the Criminal Code came into force in Kazakhstan on September 16. One targets cyber fraudsters, the other those who force marriage, Orda.kz reports.
Dropping Now Prohibited
Article 232-1 has been added to the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, establishing criminal liability for “dropping” — a scheme in which a person illegally provides, buys, or sells access to bank accounts, cards, or other payment instruments.
Transfers and payments carried out for a fee on behalf of third parties are also banned.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the new measure is designed to combat cybercrime and protect the financial security of citizens.
Such actions are now punishable by a fine or up to seven years in prison, with possible confiscation of property.
Earlier, police detained a 24-year-old Russian in Oral who stole more than 12 million tenge through dropper schemes.
Bride Kidnappers
For the first time, Kazakh legislation directly defines criminal liability for forcing someone into marriage.
The harshest penalties apply when coercion involves violence, is committed against a minor, is carried out by a group, or involves abuse of official position.
Depending on the severity, punishment ranges from a fine and corrective labor to ten years in prison if the actions result in serious consequences.
At the same time, Article 125 of the Criminal Code has been amended: kidnappers will now be held liable even if they voluntarily release the victim. Previously, this could have served as a mitigating factor.
Such cases have often ended in tragedy. In May this year, in the Almaty region, during the ritual of "alyp qashu" — the practice of bride kidnapping and forced marriage — a car carrying a kidnapped bride crashed.
The girl died on the spot, while the groom and two of his friends were hospitalized.
Original Author: Ruslan Loginov
Latest news
- Kazakhstan Refuses To Ease Access To Hazardous Work Payments
- Almaty Metro To Replace Korean-Controlled System After Technical Failures
- Fewer Kazakhstanis Work Outside Their Home Regions
- Safety Violations Cited As Possible Cause Of Kazzinc Plant Explosion
- Tenge Weakens Five Percent In May As National Bank Reports No Interventions
- New Direct Flights From Kazakhstan To Warsaw, Izmir, And Larnaca
- Kazakhstan Clarifies Position On Possible Iranian Uranium Storage
- EU Politicians Eye Kazakhstan And Uzbekistan As Possible Sites For Migrant Return Centers
- Kazakhstanis Are Leaving The Regions For Megacities
- Kazakhstan Could Store Iranian Uranium If US-Iran Nuclear Deal Is Reached
- Kazakhstan’s EV Boom Is Here. Is The Grid Ready?
- Cyprus President To Make First Official Visit To Kazakhstan
- Kazakh Investors May Gain Remote Access To Armenian Stock Market
- Call Center In Ukraine Scammed Kazakhstanis By Posing As Banks And Police
- Kazakhstan Marks Day Of Remembrance For Victims Of Political Repression And Famine
- Kazakhstan Considers Molecular Markers To Track Fuel Supply Chains
- Tengiz Oil Production Gradually Restored After Operational Failure
- Tokayev Meets Cuban Vice President To Discuss AI And Medicine
- Karaganda Zoo Shows Newborn Amur Tiger Cubs For The First Time
- Putin and Tokayev Consolidate New Format of Relations, Political Analyst Says
