Money belonging to Kazakh officials was found in Swiss banks

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Adyrna.kz Telegram

In the 1990s, money allegedly belonging to high-ranking Kazakh officials was found in Swiss banks, according to the national portal Adyrna.

Kazakh authorities have instructed Interpol to search Switzerland for the accounts of former Kazakh Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhigeldin. However, Kazhygeldin's money was not found there. But they found $ 84 million, which belonged to a number of top leaders in Kazakhstan.

Over time, the interest rate grew from $ 84 million to $ 115 million. It is assumed that these accounts are receiving money from American oil companies interested in gaining access to Kazakhstan's fields.

James Giffen, an American commercial banker and then Nazarbayev's adviser, was in charge of banking operations. The money went through his company, Mercator in New York. But he was arrested in 2003. He was accused of bribing high-ranking Kazakh officials.

It was published on The New York Times on November 5, 2006. There:

"The money provided by American companies seeking to acquire large oil reserves in Kazakhstan was used for the personal needs of the Kazakh leadership, including the purchase of expensive jewelry, boats, snowmobiles and fur coats," the statement said.

Authorities have completely denied all allegations against Kazakhgate.

In 2010, James Giffen was fully acquitted. He pleaded guilty to minor tax violations. His defense was backed by the CIA.

His company also pleaded partially guilty. Mercator has even donated snowmobiles to a number of government officials.

Giffen has to pay a mandatory fee of $ 25 for all court orders. His company had to pay $ 32,000.

The trial lasted 7 years. The court could not confirm that he had received millions of dollars in bribes, but the money was returned to the country. They were spent on charity.

National portal "Adyrna"

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