The Anti-Corruption Service of Kazakhstan reported that Darkhan Umraliev, suspected of embezzlement of state property, was detained in Bishkek. Kazinform reports. He is currently in a temporary detention facility in Almaty.
Darkhan Umraliev is suspected of embezzling three houses and two apartments in Edelweiss microdistrict, which belonged to former Almaty head Viktor Khrapunov, and which were confiscated by court order in 2018.
The agency believes that the fraud was committed with the participation of officials of the city administration and the city department of the National Security Committee — the property was sold at deliberately reduced prices and without holding an auction.
In September 2023, the Medeu District Court found former deputy head of the Almaty Department of the National Security Committee Talgat Mukhanov, former deputy head of Almaty Ilyas Userov, and former head of the Finance Department of the city administration Ainur Kudaibergenova guilty of «fraud and aiding in fraud» for purchasing five apartments confiscated from Viktor Khrapunov at a reduced price. They then sold the apartments. The defendants received sentences from 6 to 8 years.
Darkhan Umraliev is the brother of former Almaty city maslikhat deputy Kairat Kudaibergen, who was detained after the January events.
Mass protests in Kazakhstan began on January 2, 2022. Residents of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the Mangistau region protested against the increase in prices for liquefied gas, then the protests spread to other regions.
