An official representative of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Daniyar Bigaidarov, disclosed systematic corruption violations in the education sector, leading to damages exceeding 14 billion Tenge over a span of 15 months. The corrupt practices involved embezzlement from the labor payment fund, with accountants taking advantage of the lack of integration between school accounting systems, the national educational database, and the treasury client system to manipulate payment documents and misappropriate budgetary funds. These fraudulent activities were identified during the annual budget requests.
According to Bigaidarov, the individuals involved in the embezzlement schemes executed various tactics, such as transferring salaries beyond the set limits, funneling money to affiliated persons through third-party accounts, duplicating money transfers, and creating fictitious "ghost employees" to siphon funds. The Anti-Corruption Agency documented 206 criminal cases in the education sector, with damages surpassing 14 billion Tenge, predominantly concentrated in regions like Turkistan, Zhetysu, Kyzylorda, Almaty, and Aktobe. Recent interventions in Zhetysu successfully thwarted illicit activities by the head of the budget department in the education sector, who was suspected of misappropriating 1 billion Tenge by irregularly channeling excess salaries to accountants.
During the investigations, authorities confiscated 156 million Tenge, and the suspect was detained pending further inquiry. Subsequently, on April 4, the Zhanaozen District Court convicted the education department head, chief accountant, and 24 school accountants for embezzling over 1 billion Tenge, sentencing the head to 8 years in prison and one accountant to 7 years with a 5-year probation due to childcare obligations. Additionally, they were permanently barred from holding any public service roles.
Moreover, on March 15, 2024, the Anti-Corruption Service announced the commencement of pilot projects involving the digital Tenge for the utilization of budget funds, with the objective of combatting corruption in financial processes.
