mystery unfolds as 136 million vanish coinciding with purchase of theater equipment in Shymkent
In a shocking turn of events, the Shymkent branch of the Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) has uncovered a large-scale embezzlement scheme involving the director of the state-owned Shymkent Youth Theater and several other officials. The alleged misappropriation of funds amounts to over 136 million tenge, money intended for the purchase of concert equipment.
The investigation has revealed that the procurement was irregularly split into more than 20 smaller lots and conducted via an online marketplace without an open tender. The contracts concluded through this platform were formalized with fictitious individual entrepreneurs who did not participate in the actual supplies.
One of the suspects is accused of using 48 million tenge of the embezzled funds to purchase an apartment and a car, which were registered under other individuals. The assets of the suspects have been frozen, and they have been placed in pretrial detention. A court hearing is expected soon.
The press service of the "Shymkent Youth Theater" has stated that the aforementioned criminal case does not concern the theater, but the activities of the former institution "Shymkent city culture department" concert department, which no longer exists.
This is not the first time such allegations have been made against Kazakhstani officials. Critics like Bake have expressed discontent with the frequent occurrence of crime in the country, stating that Shymkent is just another day in the life of Kazakhstani officials.
The FMA is also conducting an investigation into the officials of the Astana English School in the capital, where facts of embezzlement of over 900 million tenge have been revealed. The case has sparked calls for tougher penalties, with proposals for public corporal punishment for certain offences and imposing material and criminal liability on heads of institutions and regional akims in cases of theft.
The public outcry for justice and transparency continues to grow, with many questioning the secrecy of the investigations and the novelty of the news. As the investigations continue, the Kazakhstani public awaits answers and accountability from those in power.
[1] Bake criticizes the shifting of blame by the Shymkent Youth Theater. [2] Erlan T. suggests that the stolen funds are being spent in Dubai by officials' children. [3] A court has imposed an arrest on these assets. [4] Currently, the suspects in the case are in custody. [5] One of the suspects acquired a apartment and a car worth a total of 48 million tenge with the illegal income. The property was registered in straw men. [6] Vakkh proposes a sentence of at least 40 years for corruption. [7] Kanych proposes imposing material and criminal liability on heads of institutions and regional akims in cases of theft. [8] Cool and Arthur Ocheretnyi express non-surprise at the corruption. [9] Arman questions the secrecy of the investigation regarding the officials involved. [10] Rastegai inquires about the outcome of an investigation in the capital's philharmonic in Astana. [11] Fлюra expresses discontent with the frequent occurrence of crime in Tengri newspaper. [12] Anatoly suggests public corporal punishment for littering, drunken driving, systematic traffic violations, anti-social behavior.
The investigation into the Shymkent Youth Theater's embezzlement case has raised queries about the shifting of blame by the theater, as Bake critiques the allegations.
Meanwhile, speculation around the stolen funds being spent in Dubai by officials' children has emerged, as Erlan T. suggests.
