Stocks, Casinos, and a Billion-Tenge Berry Scam: Ex-Deputy Arrested in Almaty Region

According to the Financial Monitoring Agency, a former deputy of the Karasay district maslikhat has been arrested for allegedly embezzling hundreds of millions of tenge from the state, Orda.kz reports.

Authorities say the ex-deputy submitted fraudulent documents claiming he had purchased elite “Nagrada” raspberry seedlings for 947 million tenge.

Based on these records, he received a government subsidy covering 50% of the cost — 474 million tenge. However, investigators believe the documents were fake, making the subsidy illegal.

To launder the funds, the suspect set up a multi-level scheme, signing fictitious contracts with 21 individual entrepreneurs for packaging, loading, and unloading seedlings — work that was never actually done. Through these fake contracts and invoices, 431 million tenge was cashed out, the Agency explained. 

Investigators allege the former deputy used part of the money to trade securities under his wife’s name, making an additional 89 million tenge in profit — now also classified as criminal income.

Authorities have already seized his securities and a Toyota Highlander purchased with the funds. However, recovering the full amount may not be possible — 170 million tenge was reportedly lost in a casino in Qonayev.

A court has ordered the suspect to remain in custody for two months. While officials have not disclosed his identity, details of the case strongly resemble a 2022 Orda.kz investigation involving the “Nagrada” raspberry variety and former maslikhat deputy Beket Abishev.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin