The million tenge rip-off: Ex-governor of Atyrau region cashes in and walks away
09:15, 28 March 2013
ATYRAU. March 28. KAZINFORM Ex-governor of Atyrau region Bergei Rysskaliyev and his team made the headlines again. This time it looks like they made a hand of the construction of sports facilities in the region and walked away with their pockets full.The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office has confirmed the theft of at least 68 million tenge cashed up from the budget on the construction purposes.
Recent inspection exposed major problems at the construction sites of the Atyrau sports facilities. Defective work of the regional construction department caused damage amounting to millions of tenge.
"The Prosecutor General's Office found out the Atyrau construction department knowingly broke numerous laws on public procurements, on architectural and construction activities in Kazakhstan. The construction works were carried out without design specifications and estimates. The estimated cost of the facilities was significantly written up. Despite unsatisfactory work, the contractors made free use of budget funds," the press service says.