Individual without limbs has spent a decade behind bars.
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Living Hell: The Tale of a Man with No Limbs, Forced to Beg in Karaganda
Last May, authorities in Karaganda uncovered a horrifying racket that had been exploiting the disabled for years. A criminal gang coerced handicapped individuals to beg on the streets, reaping millions annually from their misery.
Meet the unfortunate 41-year-old victim, who lost his legs and hands, forced into daily beggery under the shadow of physical abuse. His partner, too, was ensnared by the group's manipulations. Each day, she drove him to the city center, where he spent hours pleading for scraps from passersby, generating between 20,000 to 40,000 tenge per day.
"The victim was subjected to daily begging spells from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., subjected to threats and violence to comply. Come rain, shine, or mud, he was left to sit on the harsh ground at the '45th Quarter' bus stop in Karaganda, exposing himself to the elements, all for a pitiful wage," police reports indicate.
Leveraging a Child to Amplify Control
The disabled man's tormentors didn't stop at physical abuse; they additionally blackmailed him with his own child. The little girl was born in 2020, but the ringleader of the criminal activity seized her from her parents and handed her over to his own sister to raise. The victim could only catch glimpses of her child at designated times, threatened with the loss of parental rights should he defy the 'master's' demands.
A Day in Court
The ringleader was finally apprehended in December 2023, following drug-related charges. It was then that the extent of his cruelty was revealed, shedding light on the years of suffering he inflicted on the helpless victim.
The trial remains ongoing, as several co-conspirators also face charges. Some defendants claim they were unaware of the criminal nature of their activities, reducing their involvement to minor tasks. Neither the victims nor their lawyer opted to participate in the hearings due to health concerns.
A similar case from the Karaganda region sparked outrage last year involving six children who were abused and forced to perform heavy labor. These cases raise questions about the effectiveness of local law enforcement in addressing serious abuse cases.
As the investigation continues, we can only hope these victims find the justice they deserve.
(Based on Enrichment Data, it's worth noting that authorities in Kazakhstan are expected to conduct investigations when presented with credible reports of forced labor, particularly those involving vulnerable individuals. Social services are obligated to provide protection and support to those who have experienced abuse. However, challenges like underreporting due to fear of stigma or retaliation, corruption, and resource gaps can delay justice for victims.)
- The horrifying case in Karaganda, where a man was forced to beg due to the negligence of a criminal gang, has demanded the attention of general-news and crime-and-justice outlets.
- The ringleader, who is currently on trial, used the man's child as leverage to ensure his compliance, confiscating the girl and threatening to take away his parental rights if he did not obey.
- Despite the ongoing trial, several co-conspirators claim they were unaware of the criminal nature of their activities, possibly implying partial innocence.
- This case, along with previous instances of abuse in the Karaganda region, raises questions about the effectiveness of local law enforcement in addressing serious cases of neglect and exploitation.
