Police Officer Detained for Alleged Bribery; Illegal Explosives Transport Blocked in Separate Case

Deputy Chief of the Sarysu District Police Department in the Jambyl Region, Lieutenant Colonel Kanat Narbekov, has been detained, Orda.kz reports.

According to investigators, officers from the National Security Committee (KNB) caught Narbekov in the act. He is suspected of extorting money from representatives of the Chinese construction corporation CNCEC in exchange for offering "protection" for foreign workers.

The officer allegedly received 1.5 million tenge.

CNCEC representatives filed the report with the KNB. Narbekov was detained during the handover of the money.

CNCEC (China National Chemical Engineering Company) is one of the world’s largest engineering firms. It carries out 90% of chemical production projects in China and more than half of the petrochemical and oil refining projects.

An investigation has been launched under Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan (accepting a bribe).

Separately, KNB officers in Aqmola Region, in cooperation with the prosecutor’s office, have blocked an illegal explosives transport channel.

During a special operation, authorities seized 200 kilograms of ammonium nitrate — equivalent in power to about 60 kilograms of TNT—as well as 200 detonation cords with blasting caps.

Preliminary findings indicate the explosives were intended for illegal mineral extraction.

A pre-trial investigation is underway under the article on the illegal handling of explosives. Further details have not been disclosed in the interest of the investigation.

Original Authors: Islambek Dastan, Artyom Volkov