Otbasy Bank Responds to Former Employee’s Claims of Cash Collections and Unlawful Dismissal

Otbasy Bank has issued a statement addressing accusations from former employee Maksim Ileshev, who alleged illicit cash collections and wrongful termination, Orda.kz reports.

The bank said that in 2023, staff from one of its departments decided on their own initiative to congratulate a deputy chair of the board on his birthday and, in keeping with corporate tradition, present him with a shapan (traditional robe).

Such a gift is tied to the fact that on Wednesdays, visitors to the bank’s branches are greeted by staff in kamzols or shapans. This is not just an element of appearance but an important part of corporate culture, reflecting respect for national traditions, hospitality, and sincere customer relations. That is why a shapan was chosen as the gift, the bank said in its official response.

According to the bank, the manager declined the gift, returned it, and insisted that the money be returned.

Ileshev considered this incident a possible corruption violation. After his complaint, the bank conducted an internal review and forwarded materials to the anti-corruption agency, which found no criminal offense.

The dispute between Ileshev and his employer continued. In 2024, while still employed, he filed a lawsuit seeking to eliminate wage discrimination, recover damages for moral harm, and overturn a disciplinary penalty for using prohibited software on his work computer.

Both the district court and the appeals court rejected his claims.

The bank also addressed the circumstances of Ileshev’s dismissal, saying he failed to show up for work on September 20 and 26, 2024, without formally documenting his absence.

Absence from the workplace without a valid reason is a gross violation that undermines labor discipline and breaches the employment contract. Therefore, under subparagraph 8, paragraph 1, Article 52 of Kazakhstan’s Labor Code, the bank terminated Ileshev’s contract for being absent without a valid reason for three or more consecutive hours in a single workday, the bank explained.

Ileshev challenged the dismissal in court, but the district court ruled in favor of the employer. The appeals court upheld the ruling, finding the bank acted within the law and did not violate his labor rights.

Earlier, Ileshev had released a video statement claiming he was fired for refusing to take part in a “cash collection scheme” at Otbasy Bank. He alleged that for Deputy Chair  Nurlan Akshanov’s birthday, one department collected a total of 239,000 tenge, with rank-and-file staff contributing 6,000 tenge each and managers 15,000 tenge each.
 
Original Author: Ayanrafi Narikbaeva