In Almaty, a verdict has been reached regarding a former official from the Education Department and a businesswoman for organizing a children's camp in unsuitable conditions.
The criminal case was heard in court No. 2 of the Medeu district. An ex-official, accused of attempting to accept a bribe, and a businesswoman, accused of attempted fraud, were both found guilty.
It was established in court that the official, as the chief specialist in government procurement at the Almaty Education Department, favored two of her companies in a bid for organizing summer activities for children with special needs, orphans, and those without parental care.
The summer of 2023 saw 50 children brought to a private school by the businesswoman, who also took 300 children to a bath complex under the guise of organizing a camp. Parents and school staff intervened upon discovering the inappropriate conditions, leading to the disruption of the children's vacations.
The official denied guilt, while the businesswoman admitted to her actions, requesting a non-custodial sentence.
The prosecutor sought seven years of imprisonment for the official and five years for the businesswoman. The verdict has not yet come into legal force.
In July 2023, reports emerged of vulnerable children in Almaty receiving free camp vouchers that turned into a nightmare, with children housed in a sauna building. Disturbing videos of the conditions surfaced online, prompting a probe by the city prosecutor's office under two articles. In November 2023, the Anti-Corruption Agency disclosed details of the investigation.
