Promised to Get Bishimbayev off the Hook: Astana Resident Sentenced to 10 Years

An Astana Interdistrict Criminal Court heard the case of Lyudmila Gracheva. She was charged with fraudulently coming into the possession of 100 million tenge. She has been sentenced to ten years, Orda.kz reports.

According to investigators, this money was intended to mitigate the sentence of former Minister of National Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev. Bishimbayev was convicted of killing Saltanat Nukenova. 

The prosecutor requested 11 years in prison, but the court sentenced her to 10 years:

Under paragraph 2 of part 4 of article 190 of the Criminal Code, “Fraud on an Especially Large Scale,” with the application of part 3 of article 24 of the Criminal Code, “Preparation for a Crime and Attempted Crime." 

Part 4 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “Giving a Bribe on an Especially Large Scale,” with the application of Part 4 of Article 28 of the Criminal Code, “Incitement."

The court recognized the presence of minor children as a mitigating circumstance. No aggravating circumstances were established. She has been banned for life from holding positions in the civil service.

Gracheva will serve her sentence in a medium-security facility. 

Original Author: Olga Ibraeva