In Uralsk, inmates have been brought to court on charges of forming a criminal group and collecting 'tribute' from fellow prisoners, as reported by the news website nur.kz.
A criminal case against six men serving prison sentences has been sent to the specialized inter-district criminal court. One of them, believed to be the scheme's organizer, has refused to participate in the trial.
The defendants are charged with multiple serious crimes under the Criminal Code: creating and leading an organized criminal group, extortion, fraud, incitement to suicide, document forgery, and causing bodily harm. The case is being heard by Judge Raigul Amangeldinova.
According to the indictment, one of the defendants holds a leading position in Kazakhstan's criminal underworld and commands significant authority among inmates.
In 2015, a court sentenced him to 16 years in prison for organizing an illegal gambling business. This was not his first conviction, and he was well-versed in criminal subculture and methods of influencing fellow inmates. In 2023, he arrived at the Uralsk facility and quickly imposed his own rules.
As prosecutor Dina Iztleuova read out, he established an institution of so-called 'watchers,' defined a chain of command, and assigned roles and responsibilities among accomplices, creating a stable organized criminal group. That same year, five more defendants arrived to serve their sentences. The organizer decided to secure his own income source for a comfortable stay in the colony. He appointed himself the chief 'watcher' and also designated 'close associates' and 'butchers.'
Two were appointed as 'watchers' over the prison's industrial zones and parcels for inmates, where the main financial flows were concentrated. Three were assigned the role of 'butchers' — they became active accomplices who unconditionally carried out orders. They received income from their activities via bank cards registered to relatives and other inmates.
In total, the defendants are implicated in nine episodes of crimes committed between 2023 and 2025.
According to the investigation, the first victim was an inmate who had just arrived at the colony. The gang members learned that his mother owned a store in Uralsk and decided to improve their financial situation. They began extorting money from the man, threatening him with beatings and torture. The victim was frightened and agreed. He asked his mother for money, and she transferred a total of 1.5 million tenge to her son at various times.
The gang also forced him to take out a loan to buy an air conditioner and an iPhone 15. The items were sold at a low price, and the proceeds were transferred to the gang members. Unable to withstand the pressure, the victim attempted suicide several times and eventually filed a complaint with the police.
The next victim was another inmate who had recently sold a house in Aktobe. The gang members decided to take his money. They promised the newcomer help with parole. Believing them, he paid 1.1 million tenge.
The group continued to extort money, threatening physical violence against him and his relatives. To prove their point, they beat him. His relatives handed over another substantial amount to the gang. The total damage was 6 million tenge.
The victim filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office, but the perpetrators forced him to withdraw it by promising parole. Later, they provided him with a fake court order for release. He grew suspicious and filed another complaint.
Another prisoner suspected of being an informant was also beaten and ordered to pay 1 million tenge.
According to the investigation, the fraud victims were not only inmates but also ordinary Kazakh citizens. The criminals posted fake advertisements on various platforms and drained the wallets of trusting people. The losses amounted to millions.
Colony employees who allowed violations have been dismissed, and a pre-trial investigation is ongoing against them.