Two additional Kazakhstani nationals face a lifetime behind bars, according to recent court decisions.
Rewritten Article:
Two residents of the Aktobe region get life sentences for heinous crimes against a minor
In the heart of October 2024, a troubling story unfolded in the Aktobe region as a mother reported her 14-year-old daughter had been brutally victimized by her husband's relatives. The young schoolgirl bravely revealed that she had been repeatedly raped by the 20-year-old and 25-year-old family members since she was just eight years old.
Initially, the regional police's press service launched an investigation into extortion and violent acts, yet they failed to confirm the schoolgirl as the victim or disclose the identities of the suspected offenders.
Recent news reports now confirm that on April 23, a specialized inter-regional court ruled judgement against the two defendants. They were found guilty of "violent sexual acts against a minor" and "group extortion."
Court Findings
The court discovered that the two defendants, known as Q. and K., had threatened the mother via WhatsApp, threatening to reveal her extramarital affairs, in exchange for five million tenge. Furthermore, it was exposed that one of the defendants had committed heinous sexual acts against his brother's minor daughter and sister-in-law over a prolonged period, while the second defendant had engaged in similar atrocities since 2020.
Parties' Positions
The prosecutor deemed the charges valid and demanded a life sentence for both defendants. The victim's side concurred with the prosecutor's opinions, feeling their pain and the need for justice.
The defendants confessed their guilt in the extortion case, expressing remorse and apologies to the victims. However, they denied the rape charges.
Evidence
The guilt of the defendants was reinforced by the testimonies of the victims, including the minor victim, witnesses, material evidence, expert conclusions, and other incriminating evidence presented in court. The defendants' partial admission of guilt and remorse, as well as the opinion of the minor victim, were considered mitigating circumstances.
Sentencing
"The court's verdict found defendants Q. and K. guilty under paragraph 2 of part 2 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code, under part 4 of Article 121 of the Criminal Code, and each was sentenced, taking into account part 4 of Article 58 of the Criminal Code, to life imprisonment," the press service of the Aktobe Regional Court stated. The verdict will not go into effect until further notice.
Community Reaction
The public's outrage is palpable as the news spreads, with calls for harsher legal measures against offenders targeting minors.
- "Death penalty for sexual offenses against minors. Until the law is tightened, this will continue. It's terrifying to read such stories." — Alfiya
- "Let them rot alive, and let each new day stretch on endlessly." — Almaty resident
- "The moratorium on the death penalty should be lifted! Such scum don't deserve to live." — Tlek
- "They should be shot and that's it." — Jake
Even while outrage and demands for justice boil over in Aktobe, the tragic reality remains that minors remain vulnerable to such violent acts and the justice system is fighting an ongoing battle to ensure they receive the protection they deserve.
- The court found Mika and K., two defendants from the Aktobe region, guilty of heinous crimes against a minor and imposed a life sentence on both.
- The sentencing was based on comprehensive evidence, including testimonies from the victims, experts, and incriminating material, as well as the defendants' partial admission of guilt.
- The court's ruling, which also included a sentence for group extortion, was announced in the general-news category under crime-and-justice section in April 2024.
- The verdict has sparked widespread public protest and calls for harsher legal measures against offenders targeting minors, with some advocating for the death penalty.
