The head of state-owned space company Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary (KGS) has been arrested over allegations of bribery in a project worth close to US$100m.
KGS president Gabdullatif Murzakulov was placed under house arrest over the weekend after being…
The head of state-owned space company Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary (KGS) has been arrested over allegations of bribery in a project worth close to US$100m.
KGS president Gabdullatif Murzakulov was placed under house arrest over the weekend after being detained on 1 August, according to the country’s anticorruption agency.
He is accused of accepting around US$762,000 in bribes from local manufacturer SK Kulager in a tender to construct a satellite assembly and test facility.
The chairman of SK Kulager and a director were also arrested.
Kazakhstan’s Financial Police said via its website yesterday that it is investigating a criminal case. Neither party was able to comment before the press deadline.
KGS was founded in 2005 to implement the country’s national space programme as it looks to build a multi-purpose facility in its capital city of Astana.
The country is already home to the world’s oldest operating launch pad in Baikonur, where the first satellite Sputnik 1 blasted from in 1957. However, this facility is currently under a long-term lease with Russia.
KGS formed a joint venture with France’s Astrium in 2010 to begin constructing the Astana facility as part of its drive for independent space operations. The Kazak group reportedly holds 72.5% of the JV, with Astrium owning the remaining 27.5%.
Kazakhstan’s current space projects include the creation of a remote sensing space system and ground infrastructure for high-accuracy satellite navigation.
Meanwhile, Russia is developing a domestic launch facility in the Amur region to the far east of the country.
