«Corrupt officials will go to prison, and their relatives will not be allowed to work in government positions. We have prepared a corresponding bill,» the Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) Kamchybek Tashiev said at the opening of the committee’s department in Kadamdzhai district of Batken region.
He noted that the state committee has been unable to complete its work on combating bribery in the country for three years.
«We cannot even cleanse our own ranks. Yes, corruption has decreased to some extent, but we have not completely eradicated it. We put thieves in jail, but they go free. What should we do? Toughen the punishment for corruption at the legal level. We must ensure that those involved in corruption do not have a chance to repeat the same act. The SCNS is initiating new bills in this direction,» Kamchybek Tashiev said.
According to the new amendments, corrupt officials can admit their guilt and enter into a plea bargain with the investigation.
«But now they will spend at least half of the term of the punitive sanction in prison. Now all those detained for corruption and abuse of office must serve time in prison, if their guilt is proven. No one should avoid this. A person who commits corruption must know that he or she will end up behind bars,» the head of the security services noted.
Kamchybek Tashiev emphasized that those detained for corruption or abuse of office (receiving or giving a bribe) should never return to public service. Their loved ones — parents, children, relatives should not hold government positions. Parole will not be applied to them.
«This should not only be said in words, it should be remembered on a mental level: if you came as an employee of national security, law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor’s office, the courts — it means that you should serve only the state, and not your own pocket or those people who expect help from you through corruption. If we cannot do this, there is not enough will, opportunity, education and generally psychological state, such people should not take part in state affairs,» Kamchybek Tashiev added.
In conclusion, he noted that over four years, more than 10 employees of the judicial system were detained for corruption and bribery, but none of them could be sent to prison.
«They were all released. Not a single employee of the SCNS or the prosecutor’s office was sent to prison. Everyone agrees with the investigation, admits guilt and is released with a fine. Now there will be no fines, there will be real prison terms,» Kamchybek Tashiev concluded.
