ASTANA -- The Kazakh financial police say doctors have confirmed that Health Minister Zhaqsylyq Dosqaliev faked a stroke to avoid prosecution, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
Financial police spokesman Murat Zhumanbai said on October 5 that Alibek Mustafin, the chairman of the doctors' consortium, confessed that he made a false diagnosis of a stroke at Dosqaliev's request.
Zhumanbai said Mustafin stated that Dosqaliev's health had been "normal" since he was hospitalized on September 27.
The financial police last week suggested that Dosqaliev, 54, may have simulated a stroke to escape being detained.
Dosqaliev was hospitalized on September 27 with an apparent stroke after being interrogated by police. On September 29, a court in Astana refused to issue an arrest warrant for Dosqaliev due to his reported poor health.
Zhumanbai told journalists that Dosqaliev is suspected of embezzlement and the illegal sale of real estate.
Members of the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of Kazakhstan's parliament, asked Prosecutor-General Qairat Mami on September 29 to clarify the actions of the financial police with regard to Dosqaliev.
At a press briefing in Astana today, Zhumanbai said that a further criminal case has been launched against Dosqaliev.
"Investigations revealed that Dosqaliev received six apartments as a bribe, registered one of them in the name of a relative, and sold the other five," Zhumanbai said.
Financial police spokesman Murat Zhumanbai said on October 5 that Alibek Mustafin, the chairman of the doctors' consortium, confessed that he made a false diagnosis of a stroke at Dosqaliev's request.
Zhumanbai said Mustafin stated that Dosqaliev's health had been "normal" since he was hospitalized on September 27.
The financial police last week suggested that Dosqaliev, 54, may have simulated a stroke to escape being detained.
Dosqaliev was hospitalized on September 27 with an apparent stroke after being interrogated by police. On September 29, a court in Astana refused to issue an arrest warrant for Dosqaliev due to his reported poor health.
Zhumanbai told journalists that Dosqaliev is suspected of embezzlement and the illegal sale of real estate.
Members of the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of Kazakhstan's parliament, asked Prosecutor-General Qairat Mami on September 29 to clarify the actions of the financial police with regard to Dosqaliev.
At a press briefing in Astana today, Zhumanbai said that a further criminal case has been launched against Dosqaliev.
"Investigations revealed that Dosqaliev received six apartments as a bribe, registered one of them in the name of a relative, and sold the other five," Zhumanbai said.