Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALMATY717
2006-02-22 12:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Office Almaty
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: SEVEN ARRESTED IN SARSENBAIULY MURDER

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL KZ POLITICAL 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ALMATY 000717 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (JMUDGE); DRL/PHD (CKUCHTA-HELBLING)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SEVEN ARRESTED IN SARSENBAIULY MURDER
CASE

REF: A. ALMATY 692

B. ALMATY 646

C. ALMATY 576

Classified By: CDA MARK ASQUINO, FOR REASONS 1.4(B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALMATY 000717

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (JMUDGE); DRL/PHD (CKUCHTA-HELBLING)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SEVEN ARRESTED IN SARSENBAIULY MURDER
CASE

REF: A. ALMATY 692

B. ALMATY 646

C. ALMATY 576

Classified By: CDA MARK ASQUINO, FOR REASONS 1.4(B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary: The Ministry of Interior (MVD) announced the
arrest of six suspects in the Sarsenbaiuly murder case
(reftels) on February 20. According to the MVD, five of the
suspects -- all current KNB (National Security Committee)
agents -- have confessed to kidnapping the victims on orders
of the sixth (hereafter "A1"),who allegedly paid each of the
five men $5000. The MVD believes that A1 committed the
actual murders, in concert with a yet-unidentified driver.
The MVD has not revealed A1's identity, other than to
describe him as a wealthy businessman and a former, corrupt
policeman.


2. (C) Summary (continued): On February 22 the MVD informed
LEGAT that, acting on information provided by A1, they had
arrested an additional suspect in Astana, and had identified
and located the presumed mastermind of the crime in an Astana
hospital. On February 22, KNB Chair Nartai Dubaev reportedly
submitted his resignation in reaction to the arrest of the
five KNB agents. End Summary.

Tracing Telephones Leads to Breakthrough
--------------


3. (C) Ministry of Interior (MVD) officials arrested the
first two of five alleged kidnappers -- all current members
of a paramilitary unit of the Kazakhstani National Security
Committee (KNB) -- on February 16. The MVD was able to
identify the men by tracking calls made on the victims'
cellphones. The two suspects then identified three other KNB
colleagues involved in the crime.


4. (C) According to the MVD, the KNB agents confessed to
having kidnapped Sarsenbaiuly, his driver, and bodyguard, in
return for approximately $25,000, or $5,000 each. According
to the suspects, on February 8 or 9 one of the agents had
been recruited by A1, "an old friend," to kidnap Sarsenbaiuly
as a "scare tactic." On February 11, they alleged, A1 had
provided them with specific information on Sarsenbaiuly's
whereabouts and ordered them to proceed with the kidnapping.
The five men claim that they kidnapped the three victims and
delivered them to A1 without knowing that A1 intended to
murder them.

An Alleged Killer -- But No Motive
--------------


5. (C) The MVD arrested A1 on the afternoon of February 19.
The MVD has not yet released A1's identity, but told LEGAT
that he was a wealthy businessman and former policeman who
had been fired from the force for corruption. As of February
20, the MVD was analyzing A1's cellphone actvity in an
attempt to identify a driver who they believe was also
involved in the murder.


6. (C) On February 21, MVD officials told LEGAT that they
were inclined to believe that the five KNB agents had not,
in fact, participated in the actual killing. However, MVD
investigators had not discovered A1's motive for committing
the murders, as nothing in his personal or professional life
appeared to tie him to Sarsenbaiuly. In part for that reason,
the MVD began pursuing the hypothesis that A1, himself, had
been directed to carry-out the murders.

Identifying an Alleged Mastermind
--------------


7. (C) On February 22, the MVD informed LEGAT that, based on
information provided by A1, they had identified and located
the suspected mastermind of the crime in an Astana hospital,
and had arrested a seventh suspect, the alleged mastermind's
"assistant." The MVD acknowledged to LEGAT that, other than
A1's word, they had no evidence linking the alleged
mastermind to the crime, but hoped that the money used to pay
the kidnappers could be traced back to the mastermind.

KNB Chief Reportedly Submits Resignation
--------------


8. (U) According to press reports, KNB Chair Nartai Dubaev
submitted his resignation to President Nazarbayev on February
21, in reaction to the fact that five KNB agents had been
implicated in the crime.
ASQUINO