In Aktau on May 15, an acquittal verdict was announced for a man accused of drug trafficking.
According to the court's verdict, the pre-trial investigation body charged the defendant with intending to distribute analogs of psychotropic substances on a large scale in November 2023 in Aktau through Telegram.
The defendant, referred to as "Senior" in the court's verdict, was contacted via the messenger by an unidentified individual who proposed engaging in the distribution of psychotropic substances in Aktau. The defendant agreed to this proposal.
On November 8, 2023, in the 12th microdistrict of Aktau, the police detained the defendant and found in his backpack electronic scales, a metal spoon, tape, foil, two plastic bags with analogs of psychotropic substances, 33 plastic bags, and seven wraps of such substances.
The trial involved jury members, and during the court proceedings, the defendant's lawyer requested to deem the interrogation protocol of a witness and the video recording of the defendant's personal search as inadmissible evidence. The court rejected this request, stating that the testimony of the witness confirmed the discovery of the substances in large quantities in the defendant's possession.
The court document also mentioned that video recordings were reviewed during the process, showing that the defendant did not dispute the ownership of the prohibited substances found on him. The defendant explained that he possessed the psychotropic substances for the purpose of distribution.
As a result of the trial, the defendant was acquitted.
The acquittal verdict was based on the jury's responses to the second main question, where it was decided that the defendant's involvement in the offense was not proven. Therefore, he was acquitted due to the lack of evidence of his participation in the illegal acquisition, possession, transportation for sale of psychotropic substances on a large scale, by a group of individuals by prior conspiracy, through the use of electronic information resources.
The defendant was released from custody in the courtroom.
Meanwhile, local media outlet Lada reported that among the defendants was the son of a police colonel, the deputy chief of the Department of the Interior Affairs of the Mangystau Region. The department's press service declined to comment.
