Former Karaganda Akim jailed for corruption released on parole

    Former Karaganda Oblast Akim, Baurzhan Abdishev, sentenced to 5 years in prison on corruption charges in December 2015, was released on parole yesterday, Karaganda Oblast District Court Judge Jumagul Shuzhenov says.
    The court's decision will come into effect within 15 days.
    Abdishev was convicted along with former Prime Minister, Serik Akhmetov on December 11, 2015.
    Abdishev was found guilty on three separate corruption charges: obstruction of business, abuse-of-power, and involvement in llegal entrepreneurship
    He was sentenced to 5 years in a penal colony.
    Serik Akhmetov was originally sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony, but his lawyers appealed the verdict and the sentence was reduced to 8 years, Akipress reports.