Former and acting Zhanaozen Akims were stealing money: Prosecutor

Former and acting Akims (Mayors) of Zhanaozen were embezzling money aimed for the town development, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan General Prosecutor Askhat Daulbayev as saying on January 25. “According to the investigation, the money was stolen by former and acting Akims of Zhanaozen Mr. Babakhanov and Mr. Sarbopeyev through Zhanashyr and Zharylkau public endowments,” Askhat Daulbayev said. “Increase of social tension and long strike of oil workers that ended up in clashes were boosted by illegal actions of the local officials and managers of oil companies. Financial police detected that such persons, despite of the citizens’ interests, have been for several years stealing the money allocated for social-economic support of the local population and the workers of oil and gas sector.” According to official information, the endowments accumulated sponsorship money from EP Kazmunaigaz JSC allocated for the social support of the townsfolk. “Significant part of the money was cashed and embezzled. The mentioned officials and managers of the endowments will be brought to criminal liability,” Daulbayev said. Criminal cases have been initiated against managers of EP KazMunaiGas and Kompaniya Munai Ecologiya Mr. Miroshnokov and Mr. Baimukhambetov on the fact of the theft of 335 million tenge ($2.3 million) that belong to KazMunaiGas. A criminal case has been investigated against former Director of Ozenmunaigas Mr. Yeshmanov and his deputy Mr. Markabayev, both suspected of stealing 127 million tenge ($858 thousand) that belong to EP KazMunaiGas in collusion with Director of Burgylau company Mr. Seitmaganbetov. Kazakhstan General Prosecutor also talked about bringing several police officers to criminal liability and named organizers of Zhanaozen clashes.