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A court in Astana has concluded a significant fraud case, ruling in favor of Almira Nurlybekova, the mother of former minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev. The legal battle centered on allegations of fraud involving nearly $1 million.

Fraud Conviction and Sentencing

The court found the defendant, Bekzat Komeleva, guilty of fraud. She has been sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison, with confiscation of her property. However, the sentence execution has been deferred for one year, during which Komeleva must report to probation services and will be under house arrest until the verdict takes legal effect.

Financial Restitution Ordered

Following the conviction, Komeleva has been ordered to compensate Almira Nurlybekova for financial losses. The court mandated the return of over 500 million tenge (approximately $1.1 million USD) to Nurlybekova. Additionally, a 45 million tenge apartment owned by Komeleva will be confiscated and transferred to state revenue, with a second apartment also seized as proceeds of criminal activity.

Witness Testimony and Potential Further Action

During the proceedings, it was revealed that one of the witnesses provided false testimony. The victim's lawyer, Yerlan Gazymzhanov, indicated that this witness, who is the nephew of Komeleva's husband, could face criminal charges if a separate court order is issued and their false testimony is proven during an investigation.

Background of the Dispute

This case is part of an ongoing legal dispute between the parents of Kuandyk Bishimbayev and their relatives, Kairat and Bekzat Komelov. Almira Nurlybekova initially accused Bekzat Komeleva of defrauding her of approximately $1 million and also accused Komeleva's husband of defamation. While the Bishimbayevs had a partial victory in a previous lawsuit in May, where the court ordered the retraction of information and awarded moral damages, they pursued further legal action.

Previous court sessions heard testimony from the Bishimbayevs' housekeeper regarding a "suitcase full of money" and from Kuandyk Bishimbayev's father detailing his efforts to recover the $1 million. The defendant, Bekzat Komeleva, had previously denied the charges when questioned by Judge Nazgul Bapakoa.

The victim's lawyer had presented evidence related to the approximately $1 million sum, and Almira Nurlybekova had explained the origins of these funds in court.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.