No grounds for arresting Ablyazov's wife: Iogan Merkel

Photo by Yaroslav Radlovskiy©

There are no grounds for arresting Alma Shalabayeva, the wife former BTA Bank's chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov, Tengrinews.kz reports citing first deputy Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan Iogan Merkel. “The case was initiated over use of a fake passport and she was given a non-custodial sentence. This is a solved issue,” Merkel told the journalists. Shalabayeva is now free but still has to perform the sentence that does not imply arrest or custody, he said. According to Merkel, Shalabayeva was under recognizance not to leave the country because her crime was a minor offence. The law-enforcement authorities have a right to arrest a person only if the violated law provides for imprisonment for over 5 years. Answering the question on whether the General Prosecutor’s office knows the whereabouts of Mukhtar Ablyazov, Merkel said the work in this direction was underway and “the information cannot be disclosed for investigation purposes”. 47-y.o. Alma Shalabayeva and her daughter were deported to Kazakhstan because they were staying in Italy illegally and using fake passports. Italian law-enforcement authorities are currently in search for Mukhtar Ablyazov. On May 29 Italian law-enforcement authorities held a special operation in a house in the suburbs of Rome, where, according to their information, Mukhtar Ablyazov was hiding. The former banker was not found in the house. Police found only his wife and daughter. By Renat Tashkinbayev

There are no grounds for arresting Alma Shalabayeva, the wife former BTA Bank's chairman Mukhtar Ablyazov, Tengrinews.kz reports citing first deputy Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan Iogan Merkel. “The case was initiated over use of a fake passport and she was given a non-custodial sentence. This is a solved issue,” Merkel told the journalists. Shalabayeva is now free but still has to perform the sentence that does not imply arrest or custody, he said. According to Merkel, Shalabayeva was under recognizance not to leave the country because her crime was a minor offence. The law-enforcement authorities have a right to arrest a person only if the violated law provides for imprisonment for over 5 years. Answering the question on whether the General Prosecutor’s office knows the whereabouts of Mukhtar Ablyazov, Merkel said the work in this direction was underway and “the information cannot be disclosed for investigation purposes”. 47-y.o. Alma Shalabayeva and her daughter were deported to Kazakhstan because they were staying in Italy illegally and using fake passports. Italian law-enforcement authorities are currently in search for Mukhtar Ablyazov. On May 29 Italian law-enforcement authorities held a special operation in a house in the suburbs of Rome, where, according to their information, Mukhtar Ablyazov was hiding. The former banker was not found in the house. Police found only his wife and daughter. By Renat Tashkinbayev

news Mukhtar Ablyazov Kazakhstan Kazakh crime Ablyazov