Military Investigator Chief Arrested in Aqtau Over Bribery Allegations

The head of Aqtau's regional military investigative department, Mukhit Dzhavgashev, has been detained along with his subordinate, Senior Lieutenant Askhat Saduakasov, according to the National Security Committee's press service, reports Orda.kz.

The two officers are being investigated under Article 366 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code for allegedly accepting bribes.

The department is not disclosing details to maintain the confidentiality of the investigation.

We learned that the officers promised a Defense Ministry employee a favorable outcome of the criminal case for a million tenge. When detained, Dzhavgashev and Saduakasov were found to have 700 thousand tenge, presumably part of the bribe.

A Checkered Past 

The 47-year-old Mukhit Dzhavgashev previously headed the Southern Regional Military investigative department, where a significant scandal erupted in 2023. 

His chief accountant, Maksat Mukat, was convicted of embezzling 126 million tenge. During the trial, Mukat made allegations, claiming Dzhavgashev was his accomplice and spent the stolen money on a mistress.

We started looking for an apartment in 2018, and we only managed to buy it in 2019. She didn't contribute anything to the purchase of the apartment. After purchasing the property, we did a complete renovation and bought furniture. In addition, I constantly topped up her phone balance and took her to lunch, Mukat testified.

Mukat claimed Dzhavgashev pressured him to take full responsibility.

While Dzhavgashev denied any knowledge of wrongdoings, claiming he "trusted his subordinate with all his heart," the court issued a private ruling to the Minister of Internal Affairs, highlighting systemic failures in oversight under Dzhavgashev's leadership. 

Mukat received an eight-year sentence; the court found no evidence of Dzhavgashev's guilt.

The current case continues as investigators maintain confidentiality around other details. 

The outcome of these new allegations against Dzhavgashev remains to be seen in court.

Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva