KYRGYZSTAN has jailed a second former prime minister as a corruption scandal engulfs the political elite in the Central Asian country.

Jantoro Satybaldiev, who served as prime minister from 2012-2014, was taken to a detention centre in the capital Bishkek on Monday relating to a graft case over a power plant modernisation.

Former prime minister Sapar Isakov was jailed earlier this month along with former mayor of Bishkek Kubanychbek Kulmatov in the same case.

Mr Isakov was forced to resign in April after his cabinet was dismissed following a no-confidence vote in Kyrgyzstan’s parliament relating to the corruption scandal. He had been prime minister since August 2017.

It is alleged that the trio used their positions to lobby for a Chinese company to be awarded the contract to develop the Bishkek Thermal Power Station in 2013. Chinese company TBEA won the tender.

Osmonbek Artykbaev who served as energy minister between 2013-2014 has also been arrested

The case came about after an accident at the power station left thousands with no heating for several days last winter, “damaging Kyrgyzstan’s state and society.”