$932m withdrawn from Kyrgyzstan through banks, not $700m: financial police chief on Saimaiti report

AKIPRESS.COM - The financial police are looking into the journalist investigation about withdrawal of millions of dollars from Kyrgyzstan, said financial police chief Bakir Tairov in response to question what the government thinks about the Azattyk news agency's report.
Firs Vice PM Jenish Razakov said in response that only the law enforcement bodies must look into the case.
Tairov said the financial police looked into money transfers from all 17 banks of Kyrgyzstan, and in total of $932,736,000 were withdrawn, not $700 million as said in the report. "Aierken Saimaiti and Abdyraz company transferred money to China, Turkey, Lithuania, UK, Germany and other nations through the accounts of hundreds of counterparties," he said.
The main reasons for money transfers were indicated as buying fabrics, construction materials, electronic devices, paying off debts, buying lands, buildings, etc.
"This is official response of the banks. We started checking Aierken Saimaiti on July 19 and it resulted in revelation that Saimaiti did not pay 2.6 billion soms in taxes. This fact is being investigated separately under the tax evasion probe. On August 30, 2019 Saimaiti was charged and arrested in absentia. On September 1, he was announced wanted," he said.
Journalist investigation by Azattyk, ОССRP and Kloop agencies claim that $700 million were withdrawn from Kyrgyzstan by businessman Aierken Saimaiti, who reportedly handed over documents to the journalists proving the corruption scheme involving ex-top Kyrgyz officials before his murder.
Saimaiti was shot dead at the hotel cafe in Istanbul on November 10 evening.