Akhmetov apologizes to Nazarbayev

    Former Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov in his final statement during his corruption trial apologized to President Nazarbayev for 'not justifying his trust' (original - KNL).
    Akhmetov is accused of embezzling a large amount of public funds. He was also accused of taking bribes, however it was not proved. The investigators estimated the amount of damage caused by Akhmetov's illegal activities at 1.2 billion tenge ($6,408,031).
    Akhmetov will hear the verdict today, Friday, December 11. The prosecutors have asked to imprison the former prime minister to 12 years with confiscation of property.
    “I sincerely apologize to President Nursultan Nazarbayev for having failed to justify his trust,” Akhmetov said on December 9.
    Akhmetov stuck to his not guilty plea, however.
    A number of former senior officials from the region are also on trial, including former akim of the Karaganda Oblast and former akim of Karaganda city along with other 18 officials, Akipress reports.