Arrest was prolonged till 10 June for Zhanbolat Mamay

On April 27 court prolonged arrest for editor-in-chief of newspaper «Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam» Zhanbolat Mamay till 10 June. The court decision was explained by the fact that the investigation was not finished and some more time is needed to study the materials of the case.

Mamay’s defense came up with arguments that there was no necessity to hold Zhanbolat Mamay in custody, but court dismissed them.

«Let the investigation continue, we are not going to impede it, but there are no grounds to keep Zhanbolat Mamay under arrest – let he shall be released on his own recognizance, or placed under house arrest. We presented all arguments that Zhanbolat would not intend to escape anywhere. Zhanbolat has family, a small baby and old parents and he is not perpetrator. But all our arguments were ignored», - said Mamay’s wife Inga Imanbay.

Furthermore, Inga Imanbay said that father of Zhanbolat Mamay was not provided failed to status of public defender due to age and his health status.

«By now he was not granted the status of public defender. We applied to court on this matter but our claim was dismissed. The court explained it by the fact that Mamay’s father is 80 years old and his poor health prevents him form being a public defender, though there are no such restrictions  according to law. We applied to court again and now we are waiting for the decision. If our claim is dismissed, we will apply to court one more time ” -said Mamay’s wife Inga Imanbay.

Searches in the editorial office of newspaper “Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam” and in the house of its editor-in-chief Zhanbolat Mamay were conducted on February 10, 2017. Later the same day Zhanbolat Mamay was detained by officers of National Anti-Corruption Bureau within the scope of investigation of the case over embezzlement of “BTA” bank funds by Mukhtar Ablyazov.

On February 11, 2017 Medeu District Court of Almaty sanctioned arrest of the editor-in-chief of “Tribuna”newspaper Zhanbolat Mamay for two months within the frameworks of investigation of the criminal case on embezzlement “BTA Bank” funds by Mukhtar Ablyazov.

Before his arrest Zhanbolat Mamay made a public statement:

“I, Zhanbolat Mamay, I do not plead myself guilty to charges brought against me. I have never carried out any business or financial activity. I consider this criminal proceeding to be politically motivated pressure brought upon my journalistic activity and attempt to close newspaper “Tribuna”.

On 20 February Almaty City Court dismissed Mamay’s appeal and refused to change the pre-trial restriction from arrest to bail.

On 21 February the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam” Zhanbolat Mamay informed from pre-trial detention center #18 informed of beating, extortion and serious reasons to be under apprehension of his life.

On 01 April court prolonged arrest for Z. Mamay till 10 May.

After the active interference of human rights groups Mamay was transferred to another cell. According to him presently he is not under any pressure from the administration of the pre-trial detention center or the cellmates.