Ex-Deputy Governor Of Restive Kazakh Region Gets 12 Years In Jail

November 12, 2012
 
A Kazakh court has sentenced a former deputy governor of Kazakhstan's western region of Manghystau to 12 years in jail.
 
The court in the southern city of Qyzylorda found Amangeldy Aitkulov guilty of abuse of office and bribe taking after being arrested in connection with clashes between striking oil workers and police in Manghystau's town of Zhanaozen.
 
Police shot dead 16 people during the Zhanaozen clashes in December.
 
Kazakh authorities have sought to prosecute a number of local officials, accusing them of stealing oil companies' funds meant for employees.
 
In September, Zhanaozen's former mayor, Oraq Sarbopeev, was found guilty of abuse of office and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
 
Also in September, Sarbopeev's predecessor, Zhalghas Babakhanov, was sentenced to two years in jail for embezzling oil company funds.
 
Based on reporting by i-news.kz and tengrinews.kz