ASTANA -- Former Kazakh Economy Minister Quandyq Bishimbaev was detained in Astana late on November 9 after a deadly brawl in a restaurant.
The Central Asian nation's Deputy Interior Minister Saken Sarsenov told reporters in the Kazakh capital on November 10 that a probe has been launched against Bishimbaev and confirmed media reports that Bishimbaev was detained.
"I cannot provide you with any additional information as the investigation is under way. More information will be provided as the investigation proceeds further," Sarsenov said.
Astana city police said late on November 9 that a man was detained after a brawl erupted in a restaurant that left a woman dead.
"All necessary forensic works are being conducted. Operative groups of the police department and the Esil district police unit are working at the crime scene. Investigations are under way," police officials said.
Media reports said that the deadly incident took place in Astana's Bau restaurant and identified the detained person as the 43-year-old Bishimbaev and the deceased woman as his 31-year-old wife, Saltanat.
Bishimbaev's relatives and lawyers have yet to make statements regarding the reports.
In 2018, Bishimbaev and 22 others faced a high-profile corruption trial that ended with Bishimbaev’s conviction on charges of bribery and embezzlement while leading a state-controlled holding company.
A court in Astana sentenced him to 10 years in prison, but Bishimbaev subsequently was granted an early release through the government's mass amnesty decree after serving about 18 months of his term.
A product of an elite education program backed by then-President Nursultan Nazarbaev, Bishimbaev rose quickly through the ranks in the tightly controlled former Soviet republic.
He served as deputy industry and trade minister and deputy chairman of Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund before becoming economy minister in May 2016.