Officials Convicted in Pavlodar Region for Embezzling Funds Meant for Voluntary Relocatees

A fraudulent scheme was uncovered in Pavlodar Oblast, where officials stole 144 million tenge intended to support voluntary migrants, Orda.kz reports. 

The funds were misused through fictitious housing transactions.

According to the Pavlodar Region Prosecutor's Office, the Uspen District Court reviewed a case of large-scale embezzlement involving budget funds allocated under the state program "Strong Regions – Driver of the Country's Development".

The fraudulent activities took place within the State Institution "Labor Mobility Center for Pavlodar Region."

It was revealed that employees of the Uspen District Career Center branch misled relocatees who were eligible to receive up to four million tenge in state compensation for housing purchases.

The convicted gave deliberately false instructions to find a house at a reduced price, and in the purchase and sale agreement they indicated an inflated price — eight million tenge. The difference between the actual and contractual price was transferred to the latter by the settlers, according to the instructions of the accused, allegedly 'within the terms of the program,'
 the prosecutor's office stated.

As a result, the state incurred losses amounting to 144 million tenge.

The court found two individuals guilty. One was sentenced to five years of imprisonment, and the other to three years of restricted freedom. The verdict has not yet entered into legal force.

Original Author: Alina Pak