Turkestan court sentences drunk driver to 9 years for Arys crash that killed 3

September 8, 2026 at 12:32 AM2 min

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A court in Turkestan region sentenced 52-year-old Bibinur Kasymova to nine years in prison for a drunk-driving crash in Arys that killed two children and a pregnant woman. She was also banned from driving for life and ordered to pay 35 million tenge to victims. The sentence was deferred for one year because she has a minor child.

Key Facts

Bibinur Kasymova, 52, was sentenced to nine years in prison and a lifetime driving ban for the June 6 crash in Arys.
The crash killed a 30-year-old pregnant kindergarten teacher, her two-year-old son, and a five-year-old neighbor girl.
Kasymova was ordered to pay 35 million tenge to the victims' families.
The sentence was deferred for one year because Kasymova has a minor child with a disability.
Relatives of the victims called the nine-year sentence too lenient, saying the family lost three people.

The Crash

On June 6, a Saturday, an SUV driven by 52-year-old teacher Bibinur Kasymova struck six people sitting on a bench near a private house in Arys. Kasymova was intoxicated at the time of the crash, according to a later examination. Moments before hitting the bench, the vehicle demolished a fence. The collision killed a 30-year-old pregnant kindergarten teacher, her two-year-old son, and a five-year-old neighbor girl. Three other injured people were hospitalized with injuries.

Verdict and Sentence

Judge Marat Kuzdeubayev of the specialized interdistrict criminal court found Kasymova guilty under part 4 of article 345 of the Criminal Code. The court sentenced her to nine years in prison and a lifetime ban on driving. Kasymova was also ordered to pay 35 million tenge to the victims. The sentence was deferred for one year because she has a minor child with a disability.

Family Reaction

Relatives of the victims said the nine-year sentence was too lenient. Victim Agaisha Manatova stated that the family lost three people—her daughter-in-law and son, with the daughter-in-law pregnant—and that nine years for three deaths is not enough. The family said they are still grieving and are not satisfied with the court's decision.