A court in Almaty has sentenced the ex-banker Ablyazov to 20 years of imprisonment
ALMA-ATA, 7 Jun — RIA Novosti. Specialized Interdistrict court of Almaty on criminal cases on Friday found the former head of the Board of Directors of Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank Mukhtar Ablyazov guilty of creating a criminal Association, and embezzlement of Bank funds and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property, the correspondent of RIA Novosti.
“Recognize Ablyazov Mukhtar Kabulovich guilty (…) and finally appoint to serve 20 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property,” read the verdict the judge Martic of Kakimzhanov.
As reported, Ablyazov, many years living abroad, the court has not previously appeared, in connection with which the trial was held in his absence. The defendants were three former top Manager of BTA Bank: Chairman of the Board Saduakas Names, first Deputy Chairman of the Board — Chairman of credit Committee Zhaksylyk Zharimbetov, credit officer Kairat Sadykov.
The main judicial proceeding on the case of Ablyazov began in this court on April 3.
Ablyazov was suspected in the creation and leadership of a criminal community, embezzlement of funds from BTA Bank and their legalization, illegal use of Bank’s money and abuse of power.
According to the National Bureau on combating corruption, the total amount of damages exceeds $ 7.5 billion.
According to the prosecution, supported by the court, Ablyazov created an organized criminal group whose objective was the theft of BTA Bank funds. The investigation and the court found that Ablyazov and his co-conspirators artificially increased the Bank’s own capital by buying shares in the Bank controlled by Ablyazov companies for funds received from the Bank in illegal loans. The Bank’s capital increase, as suggested by the prosecution created the appearance of success of a financial institution and contributed to attraction of funds of investors and depositors.
In December 2016, the French Council of state (Supreme administrative court) quashed the decision of the Prime Minister of this country to extradite Ablyazov to Russia for the extradition request of the Russian Federation and released him from custody. The activities of Ablyazov headed BTA Bank in Kazakhstan is the subject of a criminal investigation in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, however, the extradition of Ablyazov achieve only Russia and Ukraine, as Astana there with the Paris agreement on extradition. The former banker is charged with a number offenses including fraud, forgery, abuse of power. The case against him was initiated in 2009, after which the banker fled from Kazakhstan and had lived a long time in the UK, but was forced to leave this country.