Kazakhstani Citizen Detained in UAE Over Lenovo Executive’s Homicide Case

A Kazakhstani citizen suspected of organizing a contract killing has been detained in the United Arab Emirates, Orda.kz reports. The arrest took place in Dubai at the request of Kazakhstan’s Interpol National Bureau.

Reports on the arrest surfaced on October 17.

According to investigators, the suspect arranged the killing of Lenovo Kazakhstan’s corporate sales director over a debt related to equipment supplies. In the fall of 2024, two assailants allegedly attacked and killed the victim in the Almaty region. Both were later arrested.

The case is being investigated under Article 99, Part 2 of the Criminal Code — “Homicide committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy."

Earlier reports stated that in October 2024, the body of 42-year-old Yermek Zhakipzhanov was found near the village of Otegen Batyr in the Ili District. He had stopped responding to calls the previous day.

At Lenovo, Zhakipzhanov handled government relations in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. He is survived by his wife and two children.

In January 2025, one of the suspected perpetrators was extradited from Azerbaijan.

He is accused of involvement in the homicide, robbery, and theft of property worth about 40 million tenge. The suspect remains in pre-trial detention and faces up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov