President Jeenbekov says it is wrong to link Raim Matraimov with him

AKIPRESS.COM - "It is wrong to affiliate Raim Matraimov with me," President Jeenbekov said at the meeting with heads of media organizations today.
"If you have facts, we will check them. 24 million soms were charges in taxes for Matraimov following the check," President Jeenbekov said.
Following the check into the legality of businesses run by ex-Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service Raimbek Matraimov and his relatives, 24,275,000 soms in additional taxes were charged. The General Prosecutor's Office said the list of property belonging to Matraimov and his relatives cannot be revealed citing the secrecy of investigation.
On May 29, Azattyk news agency released an investigative report looking into the wealth of the Matraimovs, which claims that hundreds of millions of dollars were withdrawn from Kyrgyzstan abroad by the Matraimovs. The report claims that $700 million were withdrawn from Kyrgyzstan in several years by a citizen of China Ayerken Saimaiti. This person, according to the report, also transferred $2.3 million to Kyrgyzstan, namely, to the Ismail Matraimov Fund. The author of this investigation is journalist Ali Toktakunov.
Raimbek Matraimov is nicknamed "Raim-million" over his alleged wealth. Matraimov was sacked in November 2017 by then-Prime Minister Sapar Isakov over the loss of government's trust. Matraimov sued Isakov for illegal dismissal and won the lawsuit.
On December 19, 2018, President Sooronbai Jeenbekov ordered to check his wealth during the year-end press conference after public outrage. Financial police said it started investigation into the wealth of Matraimov in February 2019.
"Of course I know Matraimov. In 2010 when I was elected governor of Osh region he worked in the regional customs department. He raised collection of customs fees for 156%. Then he was appointed chief of southern customs department and was later taken to Bishkek, where he became Customs Service Deputy Chairman. His elder brother is member of the Parliament from SDPK party... All schemes they developed are linked with me. At first we did not pay attention to that and lost the information war. They want to shift their mistakes on me. I kept silent and did not say anything and prohibited to say anything in my defense," the President said.