Verdict Reached in Fraud Case Linked to High-Profile Sexual Assault Trial

A court in Taldykorgan has sentenced three individuals to six years imprisonment each in a fraud case connected to a prominent trial, reports Orda.kz.

In November 2023, Taldykorgan police chief Marat Kushtybaev was convicted of sexually assaulting a 27-year-old woman in his office and sentenced to 11 years in prison.

During this legal proceeding, a separate criminal case emerged.

Following Kushtybaev's conviction, his wife attempted to negotiate a reduced sentence by allegedly transferring 40 million tenge via the court secretary. This payment was reportedly made to persuade the victim to alter her testimony, possibly leading to a reclassification of charges and a lighter sentence.

The victim allegedly agreed to change her testimony in exchange for help avoiding false denunciation charges and received a substantial sum two weeks before the court's decision.

However, the victim ultimately maintained her original testimony in court, and the money was not returned.

After the verdict, when Kushtybaev's relatives demanded the funds be returned, the court secretary claimed she had already forwarded the money to its intended recipient.

Kushtybaev's wife filed a fraud complaint with the police.

The ensuing investigation, which spanned nearly a year, resulted in the court finding the former court secretary, the victim, and her partner guilty of fraud.

Each received a six-year prison sentence.
 
Original Author: Sandugash Duysenova