Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Kazakhstan's former Prime Minister and former Defense Minister Serik Akhmetov is charged with large-scale embezzlement of budget funds, Kazinform quotes spokeswoman of Kazybekbi district court of the city of Karaganda Alia Zhosheva as saying.
On Nov.18 the court decided to place Serik Akhmetov under house arrest for a two months period until 11 p.m., January 18, 2015 as a preventive measure, Zhosheva said at the briefing on Nov. 19.
She noted that prosecutors also did not insist on custodial placement of the defendant.
"It was taken into consideration that Akhmetov had no previous convictions, has permanent residence in Karaganda. The court also considered the state of his health. Therefore the house arrest was sanctioned, "she said.
Resolution has not entered into force and may be appealed within three days.
Kazakh Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Countering Corruption made an announcement on the house arrest of Serik Akhmetov on Nov. 19 morning.
The anti-corruption agency investigates a number of serious corruption criminal cases against the former heads of the Karaganda region and the city of Karaganda, Socio-Entrepreneurial Corporation Saryarka, free economic zone of the Industrial Park "Metallurgy-Metal Working" and KazAgroFinance company: Baurzhan Abdishev, Meiram Smagulov, A. Esse, G. Rakhimzhanov and others.
Serik Akhmetov served as Prime Minister in September 2012 - April 2014. Since April till October 2014 Akhmetov served as Defense Minister. From November 2009 to January 2012 he headed the Karaganda region.
Edited by C.N.