Kazakhstan: a crime wave mars New Year's holiday period

ASTANA. January 6. KAZINFORM Kazakhstan experienced a mini-crime wave over the holiday period, statistics from the Emergency Ministry indicate.

During the five-day period stretching from December 31, 2008 to January 4, 969 serious crimes were reported, including 48 murders, 84 burglaries, 8 robberies, 340 incidents of theft and 200 drugs related offences. A source in the Emergency Ministry told the Kazinform news agency that suspects had been arrested in 36 of the murder cases, and that 4 robberies, 60 burglaries and 200 thefts had already been solved. However just 37 of the drugs related incidents had been cracked. In addition, 169 traffic accidents were registered during the same period, claiming 31 lives and leaving 215 injured. All rights reserved © Eurasianet.