Another Former Kazakh Official Faces Trial On Corruption Charges

QOSTANAI, Kazakhstan -- Another former official has gone on trial in Kazakhstan on corruption charges.

A court in the northern city of Qostanai started proceedings into the case against Akhmedbek Akhmetzhanov, the former mayor of the city, on January 25.

Akhmetzhanov was arrested in November and charged with abuse of office and illegal interference in business activities.

He was appointed mayor of Qostanai in 2014 and "voluntarily" left office in September.

Several former Kazakh officials have faced prosecution on suspicion of graft in recent years, with some sentenced to long prison terms.

The latest high-profile case ended in December with a 10-year prison term handed down to former Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, who was found guilty of embezzlement and misuse of state funds.