Kazakhstan halts 170M tenge misuse in Atbasar fountain project

Prosecutors in Akmola Region have stopped the misallocation of over 170 million tenge from the public budget. The funds were tied to a construction contract for a fountain reconstruction in Atbasar District. The contract has since been annulled after an oversight inspection revealed irregularities. A construction firm had been awarded the contract to reconstruct a fountain in Atbasar District. The project’s design and cost estimates received a positive expert review more than two years earlier. However, the contractor had previously been judged by a court as an unscrupulous participant in government procurement.

An oversight inspection later identified issues with the procurement process. As a result, the contract was cancelled, preventing the misuse of budget funds. The annulment of the contract ensures the 170 million tenge remains in the budget. The case highlights the role of oversight in public spending. The contractor’s past legal violations played a key part in the decision.