Over 2 Billion Tenge in Public Funds Stolen from East Kazakhstan Construction Projects

In the East Kazakhstan region, funds allocated for the construction of 11 social facilities were embezzled and spent on luxury homes, cars, and horses, Orda.kz reports.

According to investigators, the contractor QazConstructions misappropriated more than two billion tenge. Several suspects have already been arrested.

Among the defendants is the company's former deputy director and current member of the Kurchum district maslikhat. The company was awarded a contract to build sports and fitness centers and water supply networks in seven districts of the East Kazakhstan and Abay regions,
 the Financial Monitoring Agency stated.

Four sports and recreation centers were never completed, and the water supply system remains nonfunctional in seven villages with a combined population of more than 20,000 people.

Investigators found that the stolen funds were laundered through affiliated firms. The suspects allegedly purchased luxury apartments in Astana, a Lamborghini Urus, a Cadillac Escalade, a Mercedes, and thoroughbred horses. The court has already seized these assets.

Two suspects are currently in custody for a two-month detention period while the investigation continues.

A similar case was previously uncovered in the Aqmola region. The contractor NICS Engineering Group IV and several local officials allegedly issued fake invoices under the Nurly Jer state housing program totaling over 500 million tenge.

Although construction never began, the total damage was estimated at 152 million tenge. The suspects were arrested, and the case has been forwarded to court.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov