Marat Bashimov, a member of the Mazhilis (lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament), has sent a letter to the country’s Prosecutor General Berik Asylov about the need for “extended confiscation.” Bashimov believes that it is time for the Kazakh authorities to tighten legislation on the return of illegally obtained assets, the fight against corruption and money laundering, Orda.kz reports.
“Soon, a bill on fighting money laundering will be submitted to the Mazhilis for a first reading. I have proposed 100 amendments to the bill, to include legal norms recommended by the FATF (Financial Action Task Force on money laundering). The introduction of extended confiscation is extremely important for our country. Nowhere in the world has so much been stolen,” Bashimov emphasized.
In his opinion, Kazakhstan must fight against illegal enrichment not only of officials, but also of their family members.
“Currently, due to the absence of legislation on extended confiscation, and because assets are registered with third parties, many [corrupt officials] escape responsibility, their property is not confiscated in full, and convicted persons serve their sentences, knowing that their assets registered with third parties (relatives, mistresses, and so on) will not be confiscated, and they will enjoy these assets and [stolen] money tomorrow,” the lawmaker says.
According to Bashimov, extended confiscation can only be applied to property the legality of which cannot be explained.
Bashimov adds that extended confiscation should be applied first and foremost to high-ranking government officials. Meanwhile, other Mazhilis deputies, on the contrary, have proposed a new amnesty of capital, to forgive Kazakhstani oligarchs who have taken money out of the country in exchange for returning their assets to the Kazakh economy.
