KIMEP University Fails to Call the Police on Alleged Minor Abuser

Vlast Investigative Unit.After an internal hearing on May 4, a disciplinary investigation committee at one of Kazakhstan’s highest-ranking universities fired a professor for “misconduct” in relation to allegations of sexual harassment of a minor on campus.KIMEP University notified the authorities that it would terminate the employment of Arshad Muhammad, a professor of Computer Sciences.As a result, his work visa was revoked, a standard practice for foreign workers in Kazakhstan.The authorities then issued Muhammad an exit visa, granting him a grace period to leave the country.The letter of termination sent to Professor Muhammad.Professor Muhammad obtained an exit visa and left Kazakhstan on June 2.Between April 24, when an internal complaint was submitted against him, to the day he left the country, Muhammad was not questioned by law enforcement, and faced no scrutiny beyond KIMEP’s disciplinary committee, because the university never reported the case to the police, the Almaty police department told Vlast in a written response.Failure to report suspected sexual harassment of a minor is illegal in Kazakhstan.According to Article 434 of the Criminal Code, failure to report a serious crime committed against a minor is punishable by a fine of up to 6,000 MCI (around $53,000), or by up to six years in prison.Under Article 23 of the 2025 law on Prevention of Infractions, educational institutions must immediately report to law enforcement bodies facts of infractions committed by or against minors.The minutes of the Investigation Committee Meeting on Professor Muhammad's Case.According to the materials related to Professor Muhammad’s alleged wrongdoing seen by Vlast, the nature and gravity of the incident that led to his firing was unclear, and warranted further investigation by law enforcement.However, instead of pursuing this avenue, KIMEP chose to fire the academic and close the case.When asked by Vlast whether it had reported Professor Muhammad to the police, KIMEP University declined to comment, citing the confidential nature of the matter.Professor Muhammad, reached by Vlast reporters, declined to comment on the story.As of June 12, Professor Muhammad is still listed as the dean of the School of Computer Science and Mathematics on KIMEP’s website.Professor Arshad Muhammad.Photo: kimep.kz The Floodgates OpenThe handling of professor Muhammad’s case was disclosed to Vlast by a former KIMEP administrator, Jason Gainous, who served as dean of the College of Social Sciences from August 2025 until he resigned on June 1, citing the university’s mishandling of another case involving a professor’s history of alleged sexual misconduct.In a series of emails sent to KIMEP faculty and students last week, Gainous raised concerns about the university’s treatment of issues surrounding economics professor Nadeem Naqvi, who had been dismissed from the University of Georgia in 1999 over allegations of sexual harassment, and for failing to protect students by informing them of his past.The building of the School of Computer Sciences and Mathematics.Screengrab from a KIMEP promotional video.After Gainous’s internal emails began circulating online, several current KIMEP students and alumni reached out to Vlast, detailing instances of the university’s failure to handle multiple alleged cases of abusive behavior and drug use on campus.What follows are some of their messages, with the students’ names withheld in order to preserve their anonymity. “I feel deep sympathy for women who have experienced harassment, and I cannot accept the fact that the university where I am studying turned a blind eye to [it], as if the passage of time were an excuse,” one student wrote. “I no longer feel safe here.”