A former head of the regional department of entrepreneurship and industrial-innovative development has been found guilty of fraud by the Uralsk city court, reports infohub.kz.
Investigators found that in October 2025, the civil servant promised a local resident help in obtaining a state grant, demanding 700,000 tenge for his "services." The defendant had no actual authority to influence the competition committee's decision and spent the money on personal needs. The victim's grant application was ultimately rejected.
During the trial, the ex-official fully confessed and voluntarily repaid the entire amount. The victim confirmed the restitution and requested leniency.
The court considered the defendant's sincere remorse, repayment, and the victim's position. The sentence includes a fine of 10 times the stolen amount — 7 million tenge — and a lifetime ban from holding positions in state service and the quasi-public sector.
The verdict has not yet entered into force and may be appealed.