Trial of Former Financial Police Officers in Khorgos Case No. 1 Closed to Public Over State Secrets

The trial of two former financial police officers accused of torture in the “Khorgos Case No. 1” will be held behind closed doors, reports Orda.kz.

The decision was made by Judge Asiya Kalkayeva of the Almaty Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court for Criminal Cases, who cited the presence of state secrets in the case materials.

The trial began in June 2025. The defendants — Kenzhebay Zhumabekov and Dauren Yesimbekov, former officers of the Agency for Combating Economic and Corruption Crimes (financial police) — face charges under Part 2 of Article 141-1 of Kazakhstan’s 1997 Criminal Code: “Torture committed repeatedly by a group of persons.”

The recognized victims in the case are Ruslan Sydykov, Nurlan Sarymbetov, and Nurbek Muratbekov, who worked as customs brokers at the Khorgos border checkpoint until April 2011, handling transit declarations.

They were detained by financial police on suspicion of economic smuggling and participation in an organized criminal group. These events became the basis for what would later be known as “Khorgos Case No. 1.”

In an interview with Orda.kz, Sydykov, Sarymbetov, and Muratbekov stated that they were subjected to torture and threats while in custody:

They also criticized the role of Judge Sovetkhan Sakenov, who presided over their original 2013–2014 trial/

They also argued that the trial was biased from the beginning.

All three were ultimately sentenced to five years in prison.

After their release, they spent years attempting to get the case reopened — efforts that were unsuccessful during what they call the era of “Old Kazakhstan,” when those responsible for the prosecutions remained in positions of authority.

It wasn’t until August 2023 that Almaty’s special prosecutors opened a criminal case into the torture allegations. Zhumabekov was taken into custody and placed in a pre-trial detention facility; Yesimbekov was placed under a travel ban.

Because the events took place in 2011, the charges fall under the 1997 version of the Criminal Code. Article 141-1 carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

Two hearings have already been held. At the third, when journalists arrived to hear victim testimony, Judge Kalkayeva ordered the trial closed.

Officials have assured the press that they would be allowed to attend the reading of the verdict.

From The Editorial Team

This is not the first time former subordinates of ex-anti-corruption chief Kairat Kozhamzharov have faced trial. In February 2025, the Medeu District Court No. 2 in Almaty held a closed hearing for former financial police officer Yesenbolat Kuandykov, who was accused of falsifying evidence in the same Khorgos case. 

According to Vremya, Judge Zalina Makharadze acquitted him “for lack of corpus delicti.”

Prosecutors appealed the verdict, but the case’s current status remains unclear. Orda.kz was unable to reach the city court’s press secretary for comment.

In a separate closed trial in Astana, three other ex-financial police officers and one former prison official were convicted of torturing the same Khorgos defendants. Presided over by Judge Aizhan Kulbayeva — who gained attention during the Bishimbayev trial — the proceedings concluded on June 17, 2025.

Former special department head Ulan Madiyev was sentenced to four years in prison. His subordinate, Talgat Abdrakhmanov, received four years of restricted freedom. Ex-officer Kasym Abubekirov and former deputy penal system chief Bekbolat Meyrambekov were each given three-year prison terms.

Original Author: Zhanar Kusanova