On April 29, 2024, in the Specialized Interdistrict Court for Criminal Cases of Astana, the court debates on the case of Kuandyk Bishimbayev were supposed to begin, but the prosecutor requested a new formulation of the charges against the second defendant, Bakhytzhan Bayzhanov.
Prior to the debates, State Prosecutor Sayakhat Nurbekov requested to reopen the judicial investigation to file a motion regarding the qualification of the charges against Bayzhanov.
"The prosecution side withdraws the charges against Bayzhanov under Article 434 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, that is, for failure to report a crime. To continue the consideration of the criminal case against Bayzhanov on the accusation of committing a crime under Article 432 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan – premeditated concealment of an especially grave crime," the prosecutor stated.
He requested to accept the new formulation of the charges. The parties did not object, and the judge granted the motion to reopen the judicial investigation.
"We do not object, but since there is a new formulation and new arguments, we need time. We must receive the new indictment in writing, we must coordinate with my client. Therefore, we request time. Two to three days," stated Bayzhanov's lawyer, Erlan Gazymzhanov.
Judge Aizhan Kulbayeva announced that the court session is adjourned until May 2 at 10:00.
After the court session, the brother of the deceased Saltanat Nukenova noted that the exclusion of one of the articles from Bayzhanov was expected.
"One article excludes another. It is impossible to both not report and engage in concealment and help in hiding. It was only a matter of time. There is nothing extraordinary about it. Why today? Perhaps it's better to ask the prosecutor's office. Maybe taking into account all the materials. Within the framework of the main judicial review, we have identified new facts, videos, and other data, additional witness testimonies. Based on this, I think the prosecution did the right thing – reacted. It was initially clear," said Aitbek Amangeldy.
Earlier, the start of the debates on the case of former minister Kuandyk Bishimbayev was postponed from 10:00 to 14:30. The reason was the absence of the defendants in the courtroom.
On April 24, 2024, the judge announced the completion of the judicial investigation in the case of Bishimbayev. On that day, a clairvoyant was interrogated in court, whose testimony differed from the testimonies of the defendants Bishimbayev and Bayzhanov. Additionally, a family housekeeper testified in court.
