The previous article discussed how the Trilight investigations was closed even before it was fully investigated. A new Prime Minister got elected. He considered the Financial Police to be corrupt and ineffective. He decided to shut down Financial Police. And our case was also closed.

Few months later, State Service for Combating Economic Crimes (GSPEB) was established as Financial Police’s replacement. GSBEP was supposed to be better, more effective and less corrupt. New staff were hired, at higher salary levels. There was some degree of optimism.

We contacted GSBEP. In July 2012 they started investigations. Soon afterwards, I arrived in Bishkek and had my first of many meetings with the investigator. The investigator working on the case was hardworking and showed interested in helping resolve this issue.

One of the issues I raised with GSBEP was that we were not being provided with financial information even though we are entitled to it, according to law and our agreement. They asked Nurgazy Nurgaziev. Nurgazy told GSBEP that he will provide financial information upon written request. The law and our agreement require this information to be provided without the need for written request. Nevertheless I sent a letter. Of course it was disregarded. A law was not being followed. This was acknowledged but no action taken. But that was the least of the problems.

The investigator seemed to be making progress, but suddenly he was no longer working on the case. Subsequently the case was closed and no detailed reasons provided.

It became a regular occurrence with subsequent investigations. Investigators would no longer be working on the case. Either they are assigned to other cases, or get transferred to another department or agency. Investigators spend lot of time learning about the case, and then they are suddenly no longer involved.

Since GSBEP closed the investigations without providing detailed reasons, asking GSBEP for further assistance would likely be a waste of time. What else could be done? We could not stop. Justice has to be done.

Perhaps give the case some prominence by seeking assistance from a ‘higher authority’? In the second half of 2012 we asked the Prime Minister’s office for assistance. Prime Minister’s office was very supportive. They wrote to GSBEP, asking for reasons why the case was closed. GSBEP did not respond. Prime Minister’s office wrote again. GSBEP responded to the second letter but did not provide detailed reasons.

GSBEP is an independent organization. Other state bodies cannot, or should not, interfere or exert influence on GSBEP operations. The Prime Minister’s office simply asked for reasons why the case was closed. This simple request was ignored. This incident was an eye opener. Even though GSBEP knew that the Prime Minister’s office was aware of the case, it did not change the way they worked. On a positive note, the fact that we managed to get the case reopened shows that there are people in Government who wants to do things right. This is promising.

We did not give up. The next article discusses how we got the case discussed at a seminar held at Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) and investigations reopened by GSBEP.

Note: A criminal case is currently open. These are two most recent letters I received from the prosecutor.

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Opening of Criminal Case March 2018

Next article: Financial Police Investigation Number 3: A Different Approach

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