3 asphalt plants accused of stealing oil in south Kazakhstan

Three major asphalt-bitumen plants in South-Kazakhstan oblast have been found involved in stealing of big volumes of oil, Tengrinews.kz reports citing South-Kazakhstan oblast Department for Countering Economic and Corruption Crime. According to the financial police, the plants taking part in construction of Western Europe-Western China road are involved in stealing of over 400 tons of crude oil. They bought the oil consciously being aware that it was stolen and stored it without documents confirming its legal origin. The financial police initiated three criminal cases. “The criminal cases were initiated against head of the asphalt-bitumen corporation Bereke, Director of the production cooperation ShymkentDorStroy and head of the asphalt plant Tulkubas Zholdary, who are suspected of being responsible for transportation, sales and storage of the oil products, of processing oil without documents confirming its legal origin and of legalization of money or other property obtained via a crime,” Department’s press-secretary Anel Matiyeva said. Finding the end users of the stolen oil, the financial police discovered the criminal group. Those who were stealing this oil from Kumkol-Pavload-Shymkent were apprehended a month ago. The criminal group worked under the coverage of Semser Security agency's director. Semser Security is the company that was guarding the pipeline. According to the investigators, he was getting 900 thousand tenge ($6 thousand) for his services. Criminal case was initiated and 11 participants of this crime were arrested on the court’s sanction. The group stole oil worth 11 million tenge ($73 thousand).