14 Mar 2022 11:18

Ex-Kazakh National Security Committee chief Masimov facing up to 17 years' imprisonment - prosecutor general

NUR-SULTAN. March 14 (Interfax) - Karim Masimov, former chief of the Kazakh National Security Committee, who is suspected of committing a number of serious crimes, including high treason, might face up to 17 years' imprisonment.

"Former National Security Committee head Masimov and three of his deputies have been arrested. They are suspected of high treason, plotting to seize power, abuse of office, and accepting a massive bribe. We think the judiciary bodies will make their judgment. The Criminal Code provides for 17 years' imprisonment for such crimes," Kazakh Prosecutor General Berik Asylov said at a plenary meeting of the Majilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament, on Monday.

"The investigation is still underway," he said.

As reported earlier, Masimov, who had led the Kazakh special service since 2016, was detained on suspicion of high treason on January 6, 2022. It later emerged that three of his deputies, namely Anuar Sadykulov, Daulet Yergozhin, and Marat Osipov, were also detained. All of them are suspected of plotting to forcibly seize power and abuse of office.