32 individuals have been convicted in Astana for illegal car registration.
On April 25, 2024, the Specialized Interdistrict Court on Criminal Cases of Astana considered a case against a group of individuals for:
- organization and leadership of a criminal group (Article 262 part 2, 3 of the Criminal Code);
- causing property damage through deception or abuse of trust (Articles 195, 195 part 1, 195 part 4 point 1, 2 of the Criminal Code);
- unlawful modification of information (Articles 206, 206 part 2 point 2, 206 part 3 point 1 of the Criminal Code);
- abuse of official powers (Article 361 part 2-1 of the Criminal Code);
- counterfeiting, production of counterfeit documents (Article 385 part 2, 3 of the Criminal Code).
"The defendants were accused of organizing mass registration of cars imported from abroad, causing damage to the state by not paying the required fees and taxes; entering false information about vehicles into the integrated information system of the Traffic Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and transactions related to their purchase and sale," as stated by the press service of the Specialized Interdistrict Court on Criminal Cases of Astana.
As a result of the actions of the criminal group members from December 2021 to May 2022, 312 cars were illegally registered.
The court found that three individuals had established an organized criminal group and led it using their official positions.
In addition to the leaders, there were five individuals in the criminal group who participated in many transactions and received a share of the money.
17 intermediaries were involved in the car registration process, buying documents in Telegram chats and reselling them. Police officers were also involved in the "case."
In court, the defendants did not admit the charges and requested acquittal.
Five members of the criminal group were found guilty of the same crimes and sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment.
Three intermediaries were found guilty of causing property damage through deception or abuse of trust, unlawful modification of information, abuse of official powers. One was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment, the second to 1 year of imprisonment, and the third to 6 months of imprisonment.
14 intermediaries were found guilty of complicity in the aforementioned crimes. Each was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months of restricted freedom.
Additionally, three police officers were found guilty of causing property damage through deception or abuse of trust, abuse of official powers, and sentenced to 2 years and 6 months of restricted freedom each.
The verdict has not yet entered into legal force.
In January 2024, it was reported that dozens of cars were illegally registered in Kazakhstan based on fake documents, causing damage of 401 million tenge.
