Heads of companies controlled by Nazarbayev's nephew detained in Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN. April 4 (Interfax) - The Anti-Corruption Agency of Kazakhstan has uncovered cases of embezzlement by companies controlled by Kairat Satybaldy, a nephew of First Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, that operate rail sidings, the agency press service said on Monday.

"Investigators have uncovered new facts of embezzlement by companies controlled by Kairat Satybaldy, which operate rail sidings (the last kilometer). Those parties, assisted by government officials, earned billions by unfoundedly increasing charges on services of rail sidings of backbone enterprises, thus increasing prices on utility services for the population," the press service said.

According to the agency, the heads of two companies controlled by Satybaldy were detained and put into custody by courts.

The agency withheld other information due to the ongoing investigation.

It was reported earlier that Satybaldy, his former wife Gulmira Satybaldy, and some other parties were under a preliminary investigation on counts of a hostile takeover of business.

Satybaldy is a nephew of First Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and one of the most influential businessmen in Kazakhstan, according to Forbes Kazakhstan.

The Anti-Corruption Agency said in mid-March that Satybaldy had been detained on suspicion of abusing his office and defrauding JSC Kazakhtelecom. He was detained at the Almaty Airport while trying to leave for Dubai.