Witness in Serik Akhmetov’s corruption trial recants

    A main witness for the prosecution in the corruption trial against former Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov has recanted his testimony, Kazakh media report from the court room.
    Businessman Zhanarys Kabdoldayev said he “gave his testimony under the pressure during the investigation.”
    “I was forced. They gave me a ‘prepared crime plot with specific sums and dates,’ (original - KNL) they filled it out and told me that everything had already been found without me. “People have said it all (original - KNL).”
    “I was in a state of shock, especially when they said I was a member of an organized crime group,” Kabdoldaev said.
    Kabdoldaev is the chairman of the StalTsink Trading House and Astana Dorservisplus LLP.
    He said his company has payed damages to the state that according to the investigation, was caused by Serik Akhmetov through the Kabdoldaev's company.
    “When investigators called me in for questioning, they told me that Serik Akhmetov's alleged illegal actions via my company led to damages to the state in the amount of 70 million tenge. As I deeply respect Serik Akhmetov and I am well acquainted with his son Daniyar Akhmetov, I considered it my duty to compensate this part of the damage at my own expense,” he said, according to Akipress.