This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALMATY 000717 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (JMUDGE); DRL/PHD (CKUCHTA-HELBLING) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2015 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SEVEN ARRESTED IN SARSENBAIULY MURDER 
CASE 
 
REF: A. ALMATY 692 
     ¶B. ALMATY 646 
     ¶C. ALMATY 576 
 
Classified By: CDA MARK ASQUINO, FOR REASONS 1.4(B) and (D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  The Ministry of Interior (MVD) announced the 
arrest of six suspects in the Sarsenbaiuly murder case 
(reftels) on February 20. According to the MVD, five of the 
suspects -- all current KNB (National Security Committee) 
agents -- have confessed to kidnapping the victims on orders 
of the sixth (hereafter "A1"), who allegedly paid each of the 
five men $5000.  The MVD believes that A1 committed the 
actual murders, in concert with a yet-unidentified driver. 
The MVD has not revealed A1's identity, other than to 
describe him as a wealthy businessman and a former, corrupt 
policeman. 
 
¶2. (C) Summary (continued):  On February 22 the MVD informed 
LEGAT that, acting on information provided by A1, they had 
arrested an additional suspect in Astana, and had identified 
and located the presumed mastermind of the crime in an Astana 
hospital.  On February 22, KNB Chair Nartai Dubaev reportedly 
submitted his resignation in reaction to the arrest of the 
five KNB agents. End Summary. 
 
Tracing Telephones Leads to Breakthrough 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Ministry of Interior (MVD) officials arrested the 
first two of five alleged kidnappers  -- all current members 
of a paramilitary unit of the Kazakhstani National Security 
Committee (KNB) -- on February 16. The MVD was able to 
identify the men by tracking calls made on the victims' 
cellphones.  The two suspects then identified three other KNB 
colleagues involved in the crime. 
 
¶4. (C) According to the MVD, the KNB agents confessed to 
having kidnapped Sarsenbaiuly, his driver, and bodyguard, in 
return for approximately $25,000, or $5,000 each.  According 
to the suspects, on February 8 or 9 one of the agents had 
been recruited by A1, "an old friend," to kidnap Sarsenbaiuly 
as a "scare tactic."  On February 11, they alleged, A1 had 
provided them with specific information on Sarsenbaiuly's 
whereabouts and ordered them to proceed with the kidnapping. 
The five men claim that they kidnapped the three victims and 
delivered them to A1 without knowing that A1 intended to 
murder them. 
 
An Alleged Killer -- But No Motive 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) The MVD arrested A1 on the afternoon of February 19. 
The MVD has not yet released A1's identity, but told LEGAT 
that he was a wealthy businessman and former policeman who 
had been fired from the force for corruption.  As of February 
20, the MVD was analyzing A1's cellphone actvity in an 
attempt to identify a driver who they believe was also 
involved in the murder. 
 
¶6. (C) On February 21, MVD officials told LEGAT that they 
were inclined to believe that  the five KNB agents had not, 
in fact, participated in the actual killing.  However, MVD 
investigators had not discovered A1's motive for committing 
the murders, as nothing in his personal or professional life 
appeared to tie him to Sarsenbaiuly. In part for that reason, 
the MVD began pursuing the hypothesis that A1, himself, had 
been directed to carry-out the murders. 
 
Identifying an Alleged Mastermind 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) On February 22, the MVD informed LEGAT that, based on 
information provided by A1, they had identified and located 
the suspected mastermind of the crime in an Astana hospital, 
and had arrested a seventh suspect, the alleged mastermind's 
"assistant."  The MVD acknowledged to LEGAT that, other than 
A1's word, they had no evidence linking the alleged 
mastermind to the crime, but hoped that the money used to pay 
the kidnappers could be traced back to the mastermind. 
 
KNB Chief Reportedly Submits Resignation 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) According to press reports, KNB Chair Nartai Dubaev 
submitted his resignation to President Nazarbayev on February 
21, in reaction to the fact that five KNB agents had been 
implicated in the crime. 
ASQUINO