Ex-health chief convicted in Aktobe for 10% kickback on cancer rehab equipment
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A court in Aktobe convicted former regional health chief and medical university rector Aset Kaliyev of taking a 10% kickback on contracts for cancer rehabilitation equipment. The scheme involved 249 million tenge in charity funds from Samruk-Kazyna Trust, with about 196 million tenge in contracts awarded to companies linked to businesswoman Inessa Muturganova. Kaliyev was caught after Muturganova cooperated with investigators and handed over the bribe money.
Key Facts
- Aset Kaliyev, former head of the Aktobe regional health department and rector of West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, was convicted of accepting a 10% kickback on equipment supply contracts.
- The university signed a charity agreement with Samruk-Kazyna Trust for 249 million tenge on September 5, 2023.
- Companies linked to businesswoman Inessa Muturganova received contracts worth about 196 million tenge for supplying rehabilitation equipment.
- Muturganova handed over the bribe money to Kaliyev in a hotel room in Aktobe on May 28, 2024, after cooperating with investigators.
The Kickback Scheme
After his appointment as rector in September 2022, Kaliyev planned to open a rehabilitation department for cancer patients at the university hospital. He discussed the project with Inessa Muturganova, whom he knew previously and who controlled several companies importing expensive medical equipment. The court found that they agreed in advance that companies linked to Muturganova would receive supply contracts after the university obtained funding from Samruk-Kazyna Trust. At a conference in Astana in October 2022, Kaliyev told Muturganova that if problems arose he would help resolve them, but she would have to pay 10% of the contract amount.
Payment Delays and Bribe Demand
After the university received the charity funds, a debt arose between the university and Muturganova's companies, with over 116 million tenge outstanding at one point. On February 28, 2024, Muturganova wrote to Kaliyev on WhatsApp asking about payment and received the reply 'All is fine!', but no money arrived. By the end of April 2024, the remaining debt was 12,958,400 tenge, and Muturganova realized Kaliyev was waiting for the promised 10%. On May 20, 2024, Kaliyev called Muturganova and asked when she would be in Aktobe; she bought tickets and sent him a photo as confirmation.
The Handover and Arrest
On May 28, 2024, Muturganova flew to Aktobe with her daughter and checked into the Dastan Hotel. She met Kaliyev at the university during the day, but the money was not handed over there. At about 7:40 p.m., she received a call from an unknown number and recognized Kaliyev's voice.
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Ex-health chief convicted in Aktobe for 10% kickback on cancer rehab equipment
