Kazpost Branch Head and Educators Sentenced Over Embezzlement Case

A large-scale embezzlement scheme was uncovered in the Sarkan district of the Jetisu region, involving accountants from the local education department and the head of the district branch of Kazpost. Over 1.6 billion tenge in state funds were stolen.

Those involved have been sentenced, Orda.kz reports.

According to the Anti-Corruption Agency (Antikor), the Taldykorgan City Court has handed down verdicts in a case involving the theft of budget funds on an especially large scale. Chief accountant of the district education department, Kurmangaliyeva, along with accountants Muratova and Kalabayeva, colluded with the head of the local Kazpost branch, Taken, to create a fraudulent scheme.

Funds were transferred to the accounts of education department employees and shared among the participants.

Meanwhile, the head of the "Aidana" nursery, Balgabayeva, and accountant Kalabayeva attempted to bribe an official named Zhapabayev to cover up their violations:

Balgabayeva and Kalabayeva were found guilty of attempting to bribe Zhapabayev, who promised not to conduct an audit at the nursery, but ended up pocketing the money himself, Antikor stated. 

The court issued the following sentences:

• Chief accountant Kurmangaliyeva: 8 years in prison
• Accountants Kalabayeva and Muratova, and the Kazpost branch head Taken: 7 years in prison
• Nursery director Balgabayeva: a fine of 1.2 million tenge; Official Zhapabaev: a fine of 1 million tenge

All convicted individuals were permanently barred from working in government or quasi-public institutions. The verdicts have not yet come into legal force.

This isn’t the first time Kazpost employees have been caught misappropriating state funds. In the fall of 2024, cashiers were found forging receipts to skim off a portion of paid state duties. Earlier that summer, 68 employees were held accountable for various violations and theft.

Original Author: Alina Pak