Efforts to recover illicitly transferred assets remain one of the key tasks of the Anti-Corruption Service.

These efforts are carried out in accordance with the President’s directives under the principle of “follow the money” and are an important part of the strategy to prevent corruption, aimed at strengthening public trust in state institutions.

Since 2022, assets amounting to over KZT 1.12 trln have been returned to the state and quasi-state sector entities.

Illicitly obtained money and property, both within the country and abroad, are actively being sought.

To this end, close cooperation is maintained with the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Financial Monitoring Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as with international partners through informal communication channels such as “GlobE”, “CARIN”, “ARIN”, and other networks, which allows for the prompt identification and recovery of assets.

Similar work is also being carried out by regional departments.

For example, during a search conducted by the Anti-Corruption Service of the Zhetysu region at the premises of a suspect in a criminal case involving the embezzlement of budget funds in the education sector, financial documents containing details of a foreign bank were discovered.

In cooperation with the FMA’s Financial Intelligence Unit, information was obtained about part of the stolen funds being transferred to accounts at the mentioned foreign bank.

Subsequently, using the global “GlobE” network, a liaison officer from the Anti-Corruption Service established contact with foreign colleagues, who confirmed the existence of accounts and financial flows from the suspect and his relative.

They also provided data regarding a non-resident of the Republic of Kazakhstan who received funds. An international investigative request for legal assistance has been sent to the competent authorities of the foreign state to freeze these funds for potential confiscation.

Cooperation is in progress.

Other details are not subject to disclosure in accordance with Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In general, during financial investigations, assets registered in the names of relatives, trusted persons, or others—often used as nominal owners—are scrutinized. Typically, they cannot justify the legitimacy of the origin of the property and funds used for its acquisition, and their declared income is significantly lower than the value of the assets.

For instance, in the East Kazakhstan region, a suspect in a corruption case registered a car and two apartments acquired with criminal funds in the name of an unemployed relative.

In Shymkent, an official used embezzled funds to purchase an electric car for his spouse.

In Zhetysu, financial investigations led to the identification and seizure of assets valued at KZT 2.8 bln, including cash, six vehicles, and an apartment.

These are not isolated cases.

All such assets are subject to a freeze, and the issue of their confiscation is resolved by the court when delivering a verdict.

During the process of locating, freezing, and recovering assets, as well as determining their beneficial owners and obtaining relevant information and evidence, close cooperation is maintained with the Committee on Asset Recovery of the General Prosecutor’s Office and other law enforcement agencies, including those of foreign states.

For example, as a result of joint work with the Committee on Asset Recovery, the Interdistrict Court for Civil Cases in Astana ruled in favor of the state and returned cash, jewelry, and luxury items totaling over KZT 5 bln.

Through investigative actions and analysis of the collected materials, reasonable doubts have been established regarding the legitimacy of the sources and origin of these assets, as well as their inconsistency with the declared income or other lawful sources.

It should also be noted that, by the President’s directive, all money seized from corrupt officials is allocated for social needs.

From the “Education Infrastructure Support Fund,” which has been replenished by KZT 153.3 bln, the construction of 89 schools with nearly 100,000 student places has already been financed in several regions and major cities.

Out of the planned 89 schools, 61 have been built and commissioned, providing 74.4 thousand places, of which 29 are located in rural areas.

This has helped resolve the shortage of places in 9 educational institutions, including 6 three-shift schools, 2 emergency schools, and 1 dilapidated school.

In 2024, 25 new schools were built, most of them in the capital as well as in the Mangystau, Almaty, and Zhambyl regions. All educational institutions have been equipped with modern facilities for comfortable learning.

This year, the construction of another 28 schools, providing 22,000 student places, is planned.

Another source of financing is the “Special State Fund,” which is replenished from revenues and funds obtained from the sale of property returned to the state, including through the efforts of the Anti-Corruption Service.

Part of these funds has already been allocated for the construction of 12 facilities, including 7 schools in rural areas (in the Atyrau, Turkestan, Zhetysu, and Ulytau regions), 2 sports complexes (in the Akmola and Almaty regions), 1 dormitory (in Shymkent), and 2 kindergartens (in Aktobe and Petropavl).

In addition, funds from the Special State Fund will be used in the capital to build a new stadium named after K. Munaitpasov with 3,598 seats.

Furthermore, 105 healthcare facilities have been approved (including a multifunctional hospital complex in Ridder, ambulance stations, medical centers, clinics, and laboratories), and 162 water supply systems (pipelines and distribution networks, water intake and pressure-regulating structures) have been approved.

In total, the Special State Fund has supported investments in approximately 280 socially significant projects across various regions of the country, amounting to KZT 223.9 bln.

Efforts to recover assets are in progress.

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Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/anticorruption/press/news/details/960517?lang=kk