The akim of the city of Khromtau, Sagyndyk Shabybayev, admitted his guilt in accepting a bribe and avoided a prison sentence. He demanded a “reward” for approving playgrounds installed in Khromtau by an entrepreneur who had won a public tender.
Through an intermediary, the entrepreneur was given conditions requiring a payment of 400,000 tenge to the akim. In addition, the intermediary added his own “commission” of 700,000 tenge. As a result, the total bribe amounted to 1.1 million tenge.
Both the akim and the intermediary pleaded guilty. The court sentenced them to fines of 12 million tenge each.
