No Apology: How Is Nurjigit Abdilpatty's Trial Progressing?

A court hearing was held on the case of Nurjigit Abdilpatty. Abdilpatty fell into a coma while serving in the army in the village of Otar in the Jambyl region.

Forensic expert Takhir Khalimnazarov explained how his injuries could have affected his condition.

An Orda.kz correspondent attended the hearing and spoke with Nurjigit's parents and his lawyer, Murat Sadvakasov.

19-year-old Nurjigit Abdilpatty went to military service on May 17 to military unit No. 30/212 in Otar.

23 days later, on June 9, his parents received news that their son had fallen into a coma.

Nurjigit says Junior Sergeant Dastan Turlan approached him and struck him in the stomach.

After that, Nurjigit felt unwell; he started having nosebleeds, his temperature rose, and he fell into a coma.

A criminal case was opened against Dastan Turlan under Article 451 of the Criminal Code, “Exceeding Authority or Official Authority.”

The defendant's lawyers requested journalists be removed from the courtroom, claiming they were creating a biased opinion about their client's guilt before the verdict.

Nurjigit's parents and lawyer challenged, saying that negative comments also affected their family. 

The court dismissed the defendant's request.

Unconfirmed 

Independent expert Tahir Khalimnazarov, who had also given his expert opinion regarding Saltanat Nukenova's death, was invited to conduct the examination.

The expert noted that the injury likely aggravated Nurjigit's condition, but the coma could not have been solely from the blows.

The injury is not the only reason for the deterioration of the condition. Viruses could also have had an effect. Polysegmental pneumonia, which was diagnosed in the victim, can worsen without blows. I can only assume that the injury could have worsened the condition, but it is impossible to draw precise conclusions, Khalimnazarov stated.

He also added that forensic experts do not make diagnoses or treat; their work is based on data from doctors.

Nurjigit had gone to a bathhouse before the incident, and the judge asked whether this could have affected his condition. Khalimnazarov replied that visiting the bathhouse is not advisable when someone has pneumonia but cannot be the primary cause of the coma.

Dissatisfaction 

Nurjigit's parents filed a civil suit against the military unit and the Ministry of Defense, demanding 10 million tenge in compensation for moral and material damage.

Lawyer Murat Sadvokasov, meanwhile, is dissatisfied with the examination results; he pointed out the discrepancies between the two conclusions.

The first examinations were conducted when Nurjigit was in a coma. Injuries were found on his body. However, the results of the examinations differ greatly. The charges are based on minor bodily injuries, which we are categorically not satisfied with, the lawyer noted.

Nurjigit's mother added that no X-ray was taken immediately after hospitalization, and he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

However, her son continues to claim that he felt fine before the stroke.

When I started feeling unwell, I was embarrassed to say so. I was an athlete and I didn't want to be seen as weak, Nurjigit said.

Changes 

Orda.kz spoke with Nurjigit's fellow soldiers.

They say there was less pressure on the soldiers in the unit afterward.

After this incident, a lot changed in Otar. The commanders began to treat us more gently,
noted soldier Bekzhigit.

Nurjigit's family claims that the defendant never apologized:

If he had come and apologized, we wouldn't be sitting here now. Shouldn't humanity come first? When Nurjigit was transferred to a ward, they didn't even warn us, they held a trial without our participation and transferred Dastan Turlan from a pre-trial detention center to house arrest,said Nurjigit's mother Zhanna Zhanalina.

Nurjigit said he had not experienced physical violence before the incident but had witnessed moral pressure exerted on other soldiers:

For some, the army can be a rewarding experience or a place to make new friends, but for me, it leaves a bitter taste. The main thing I want to tell young people is: if you encounter injustice, don't keep silent.

Nurjigit's case is far from the first.

Orda.kz will follow the developments.

Original Author: Asem Zhuken

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