Our team successfully secured the termination of a criminal case initiated against BEVERLEE BELEEVER, the official distributor of Shiseido Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan) in Kazakhstan and other CIS countries.
Investigative authorities attempted to classify the client’s business operations as the creation and management of a financial pyramid. This legal assessment contradicted the actual business model and posed serious reputational risks for a global brand.
We developed a defense strategy focused on a precise legal distinction between a financial pyramid and network marketing. Through in-depth legal analysis, we demonstrated that the distribution of dietary supplements via a direct sales model fully complies with applicable laws and contains no signs of illegal activity.
As a result of our arguments, the criminal case was formally closed due to the absence of corpus delicti (Subparagraph 2, Paragraph 1, Article 35 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan).
This case highlights the importance of accurate legal qualification of business models and timely strategic legal support in jurisdictions with heightened regulatory exposure. We continue to advise the client on compliance and protection of business interests across key regional markets.