Two Ex-Judges in North Kazakhstan Face Trial for Corruption
Two former judges in North Kazakhstan, Bekbol Baiymukhanov and Yerlan Ibrayev, are on trial for corruption. This is an unprecedented case in the region's judicial system history. They are accused of accepting bribes to influence court decisions, undermining trust in the judicial branch.
The trial, presided over by Judge Aigul Zhanaidarova, involves multiple incidents. In the first episode, Baiymukhanov accepted a $50,000 bribe to favor a collection agency. Later, he and Ibrayev took a combined 2.5 million tenge to declare a road construction company solvent.
In a separate case, they accepted 2 million tenge from businessman Gamlet Melkonyan. In exchange, they declared him bankrupt, writing off his debts. However, the court's decision was recently overturned due to lack of grounds for bankruptcy. Artem Ivanov, another judge, was not charged due to insufficient evidence.
Baiymukhanov was caught red-handed in December 2024, while Ibrayev was arrested in January this year. They are accused of violating their oath and undermining public trust in the judicial branch.
The trial of Baiymukhanov and Ibrayev continues. If found guilty, they face severe penalties. The case has raised concerns about corruption within the judicial branch, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and increased transparency.
