Tengrinews.kz — An investigation into a large-scale embezzlement of budget funds allocated to support the agro-industrial complex has been completed in the Almaty region.
The mastermind behind the scheme
According to investigators, the criminal scheme was organized by a former deputy of the Karasay District Maslikhat (local council) in the Almaty region.
"Leveraging his experience in the agricultural sector and knowledge of state subsidy mechanisms, he established a scheme for the illegal receipt of budget payments. The organizer utilized controlled enterprises and 29 farms registered across the Almaty, Zhambyl, and Turkistan regions," the Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) reported.
It was specified that fictitious documents regarding the purchase of elite raspberry saplings, intended for establishing industrial berry plantations, were submitted to the authorized bodies.
According to the agency, to support these claims, forged sales contracts, acceptance certificates, electronic invoices, and certification documents for planting material producers were drawn up.
"However, no actual delivery of seedlings took place in the reported volumes, and certain farms listed in the documents lacked the capacity to grow raspberries on an industrial scale. As a result, subsidies were illegally obtained from the budget totaling more than 2.6 billion tenge", the Financial Monitoring Agency (AFM) reported.
According to the agency, a portion of the illegally obtained subsidies—491 million tenge—was directed toward stock market operations.
"To facilitate this, a brokerage account was opened in his wife's name, through which securities of Kazakhstani and foreign companies were purchased. Additionally, another 400 million tenge was transferred to an affiliated microfinance organization, iSolutions Capital, under the guise of temporary financial assistance. Subsequently, these funds were withdrawn by the suspect in cash stages," the FMA explained.
Additionally, a portion of the stolen funds amounting to 170 million tenge was spent by the suspect on gambling at a casino in the city of Konayev.
"Seizure of property"
With court authorization, the suspects' property has been seized, including four apartments, three vehicles, a private house, and securities.
Three suspects have been remanded in custody. The criminal case has been referred to court.
As a reminder, in April 2025, the Almaty regional department of the Financial Monitoring Agency detailed the case involving the embezzlement and laundering of budget funds, in which former Maslikhat deputy Beket Abishev and others are suspected.