Suspects in Sherzat Polat Homicide Case Celebrate Birthday in Temporary Detention Facility, Police Comment

A video recently surfaced on social networks, the description of which says that the suspects in the Sherzat Polat homicide case are celebrating a birthday in a pre-trial detention center, Orda reports.

The police department commented on the video.

Yerlan Adayev, a representative of the affected party in the homicide case, published an appeal on behalf of the family's lawyers.

We, the defenders of the affected party, express our sympathies regarding the video being circulated on the Internet. The video shows that they celebrated the birthday of the suspects who were detained in the pre-trial detention center for the homicide of Sherzat Polat in Talgar, they have a cake and candles in their cell, they freely use the virtual voice assistant "Alice" and mobile phones. This incident shows the weakness of the penal system in the country, disrespect for law and order. Open disregard for judicial justice, the rights of the affected party, and the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the lawyers said.

Yerlan Adayev asks to hold all responsible officials accountable, including criminal liability.

We consider this fact an open slap in the face of society, the legal system, and us citizens. The criminals showed with their whole demeanor that every legal measure of punishment has a price. All one would need is money. We see that corrupt employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs create quite comfortable conditions for suspects in a grave crime. Looking at the satisfied, well-fed faces of people in the video, I personally did not see any traces of remorse, a sense of guilt for the crime committed. On the contrary, I see impudent, daring behavior, demonstrating permissiveness and bragging, he stated.

The Almaty Region Police Department commented on the video:

A comprehensive investigation is underway into the disseminating of a video recording from the temporary detention facility, which shows the birthday celebration of one of the arrested. All guilty parties, including leadership, will be held strictly accountable. The investigation has been placed under special supervision, the message says.

The police assured that "measures have been taken to eliminate the causes and conditions that contributed to this offense."

In October last year, 16-year-old Sherzat Polat was killed in Talgar.

The incident happened near the Kamazhai store belonging to Sherzat's mother. A few days later, a fire broke out in a house belonging to Sherzat Polat's father.

On the night of December 9, the body of 30-year-old Nurganat Gaepbaev, Sherzat's uncle, was found on the outskirts of Talgar. According to the preliminary conclusion of the forensic examination, he committed suicide.

After Gaipbayev's funeral, Sherzat Polat's father, Karzhaubai Nurymov, was detained for public misconduct. Administrative and criminal cases were opened against him and his relatives.

Original Author: Rimma Karatayeva